Christmas Season Forever 12-24-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Glory to God in the highest! And on earth, peace and goodwill toward all. The glory of Your presence among us and within us by Your Spirit brings us peace. The grace of Your favor and forgiveness brings us goodwill. I welcome Your peace and goodwill into my life today. … Christmas Eve is the height of anticipation of Your birth as the Child and Son of God on earth, as the coming of our Messiah, of our Christ. And every child of earth is thinking, “One more day! Tomorrow morning will finally be Christmas at last!” Many will find it hard to sleep tonight, tingling with anticipation and expectation. Though they may be thinking of the presents to open and gifts to receive, they will also be remembering deep down in their hearts our words and prayers and stories throughout this season of the reason why we celebrate this special day and give gifts in love to one another. What a gift You’ve given me with my children home for all of this week before Christmas. And the gift of my mom to come out and join us for a few days. Although I suffered through a hard day of fever and sickness, even that was just an opportunity to be showered in their gift of love to me, with tender care and soft prayers, back rubs and chicken soup, and space for time to rest. And I was so blessed with the gift of love from friends who prayed and who came by with meals and gifts and prayers. One of our friends took a moment to teach my kids a word of wisdom: “You know, Christmas is not just a day. It’s a season. And it’s a season that lasts a long time. And about the time we need to renew our heart for the season, we celebrate Christmas again.” We all entered into a new season in our lives, the moment we welcomed this Child of Christmas to enter into our hearts. We have received the gift of God’s love in Jesus the Christ. And though we have times when we need to renew our hearts for the season, Your Holy Spirit is always here to remind us of all the gifts of God our Father we have, all the time, not just on Christmas morning. “Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights” (James 1:17). So I rise this morning refreshed and renewed, feeling again healthy and whole, by all the gifts of prayer and rest I’ve received and the amazing gift of the healing love of God. And I will gather up my children in my arms and look into their faces to see some of the greatest gifts You’ve given me. And we will remember the gift of love we have in our hearts comes from the gift of love we have from You. Lord, as we eagerly wait in expectant anticipation for this special day, remind us of Your truth that this special season in our hearts never has to end. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Merry Christmas my friends! Thank you for your prayers for me and my family. I feel so much better today! Praise God! And thank you for your prayers for our family throughout this hard time of painful transition. But God has been faithful to be with us through it all. He is Immanuel, God with us. And He has surely been, pouring out His blessings and assuring us of His Presence throughout our journey. Thank you for continuing to join in the journey with me. God bless you in your expectant anticipation of this special day to come! Please prayerfully keep Messiah Ministries in mind for your Year-end and Christmas giving to the ministries of the Kingdom of God. I hope you find our ministry to be good soil to sow your seeds for the growing maturity of the God's Kingdom on earth. I'll be glad to speak with you personally about our vision and calling in ministry if you'd like to join with us in your prayer and financial support. Thank You! to our Isaiah 35 Covenant Partners and other supporters in prayer and finances who make this ministry possible at home and abroad to the nations. "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come" (Matthew 24:14). You're welcome to give or sign up: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Subscribe for 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

Dear Friends, Merry Christmas! I'm sorry to be out of touch for so long. First, the AoL server was down. Then, I was suddenly struck with severe fever and violent shaking and body aches one night. I praise God that He has given me breakthough and now I am resting. But please keep me in your prayer for complete victory and healing from this battle. My kids are with me this week before Christmas and I leave on Saturday for Israel, where some great friends have invited me to be a spiritual guide through the Holy Land for a week. Then, I fly from there to the Philippines where I will be a Keynote Speaker for the International Aldersgate Conference on the Holy Spirit, and fly home. So Messiah Ministries will literally be flying around the world to start off this new year of this new season. Thank you for joining me in the journey! And I pray impartation of a double portion and more for you who are joining with us of all the Lord is pouring into me and this ministry, to join with the gifts He has given you for ministry in the name of Jesus (Romans 1:11). God bless you and Merry Christmas! In the Love of Jesus! Your friend, Tommy www.messiah-ministries.org "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" Here's my last devotional I couldn't send the other morning: Morning by Morning, Monday 12-21-09 – Sharing Hope and Faith Everywhere Good morning, Lord Jesus. Son of God, Savior of man, King and Lord of all heaven and earth, I entrust my heart and this day to You. … “But in your hearts, sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an account of the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and in reverence” (1 Peter 3:15-16). The man next to me on the overseas leg of my flight from Abu Dhabi to Chicago was a Canadian science teacher, going home after his first year working abroad. In our casual conversations, Dave asked me what I had been doing in Pakistan. And I told him a little taste of the amazing things I had seen You do among the people there and in my own heart. I was telling him how the Christians there seem to see the miracles of God as almost normal Christian life because that seems to be one of the main ways Muslim people come to know Christ—when they see the love of God in the people and the power of God in the name of Jesus through the healing prayer. He was pleasant, but seemed a little skeptical and watched movies most of our trip. I wasn’t pushy in my faith, but I also couldn’t help but let a little of my joy and excitement bubble up from the past ten, extraordinary days of my life. At Chicago O’Hare, before catching my train to another terminal, I stepped outside to get a breath of some fresh air. The next door down, Dave had stepped out to smoke a cigarette before catching his train. We waved and I walked over. For some reason, he was suddenly full of questions about my idea of God and mentioned that I seemed to talk about God in a more specific way than he really saw things. He said I seemed to mention Jesus a lot, but he really saw God as more of a general force of energy in the world. I was trying to explain how I believed the energy force of God is the power of His love being constantly expressed in the world by His Holy Spirit, and that He reveals the nature of His love in Jesus. When we started talking about how love requires relationship and how God created us for a personal relationship instead of being distant, he asked me if I wanted to join him in the airport bar for a beer. I walked with him as we continued our incredibly deep discussion of faith. Pretty soon, he was asking about the miracles again. I showed him one of the testimony pictures on my lap top, and suddenly he was talking about the pain he’s had for ten years from a bulged disc in his lower back. I told him I was really excited to see if God was going to be continuing to heal people back in America like He was in Pakistan, and asked if he’d like to be the first person I prayed with since coming home. He said “sure” and the next thing I know, we’re standing up in the airport bar, with me laying hands on his back and praying for healing in the name of Jesus. His pain went down from a “6” to a “2” and he was really smiling as he bent over and twisted around in ways he couldn’t do before! I said let’s go for “0” and no pain at all. We prayed again—all in the very specific name of Jesus and by the power of His blood, out of God’s personal love for Dave. This time, he was ready for me to lead him a prayer to ask Jesus to completely heal him. And all the pain went completely went away! He laughed as he mentioned the cigarettes and bear and some other sins that had been in his life. I told him, “That’s the point. It’s not about the rules; it’s about the relationship. Then a changed heart starts to change our desires and habits.” That made it really easy to connect the dots about the very personal nature of this God and His energy and power of love, very specifically revealed and displayed in the name of Jesus! Thank You, Lord. I can already see You’ve given me a deeper faith and greater boldness to share the hope that is within me in gentleness and love, but with authority in the confidence of Your name, all by Your grace. As I begin to live out the faith and hope and love You’ve been pouring into me in these days, help me share it in ways that bring others to You in gentleness and reverence—whether in airport bars or anywhere else my journey with You will lead. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, thank you for your prayers for me in ministry to the people of Pakistan. It's amazing to see all the Lord is doing! As I've shared with our intercessory prayer team, we are hearing incredible testimonies of healing and deliverance from our healing revival meetings. By the grace of God, the Lord keeps increasing my personal faith and boldness to preach and to pray, as I'm surrounded by people so hungry and thirsty for an encounter with Jesus. Praise God! God is on the move in the earth in these days, and I join with you in crying out to Him to move in the power and glory of His name in our nations and all the nations of the earth. Come to The Mountain! Tonight, Monday, December 21st at 7PM, to hear special guest speaker Henri Haber, whose father is a well respected leader of our Jewish Community in Lexington, and a Holocaust survivor. Our weekly prayer meeting for Isreal and the peace of Jerusalem are led by Bob and Doris McCray and hosted at New Life Church, 2601 Clays Mill Rd (corner of Clays Mill and Hill n' Dale) in Lexington. All are welcome! Contact Doris for details at bndmccray@windstream.net Please prayerfully keep Messiah Ministries in mind for your Year-end and Christmas giving to the ministries of the Kingdom of God. I hope you find our ministry to be good soil to sow your seeds for the growing maturity of the God's Kingdom on earth. I'll be glad to speak with you personally about our vision and calling in ministry if you'd like to join with us in your prayer and financial support. Thank You! to our Isaiah 35 Covenant Partners and other supporters in prayer and finances who make this ministry possible at home and abroad to the nations. "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come" (Matthew 24:14). January 27-30, 2010: The Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry--Level 1 A focused time of teaching, equipping, discipleship and mentoring, personal ministry in a fun and spiritual atmosphere of worship and prayer led by Tommy Hays and our team at 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 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 more information or to Register for The Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry please click on this link: Information/RegisterSchoolOfMinistryLevelOne Subscribe for 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 Order my Books, Free to Be Like Jesus and Morning by Morning, or our other Ministry Resources or Contribute On-line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Sharing Hope and Faith Everywhere 12-21-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Son of God, Savior of man, King and Lord of all heaven and earth, I entrust my heart and this day to You. … “But in your hearts, sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an account of the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and in reverence” (1 Peter 3:15-16). The man next to me on the overseas leg of my flight from Abu Dhabi to Chicago was a Canadian science teacher, going home after his first year working abroad. In our casual conversations, Dave asked me what I had been doing in Pakistan. And I told him a little taste of the amazing things I had seen You do among the people there and in my own heart. I was telling him how the Christians there seem to see the miracles of God as almost normal Christian life because that seems to be one of the main ways Muslim people come to know Christ—when they see the love of God in the people and the power of God in the name of Jesus through the healing prayer. He was pleasant, but seemed a little skeptical and watched movies most of our trip. I wasn’t pushy in my faith, but I also couldn’t help but let a little of my joy and excitement bubble up from the past ten, extraordinary days of my life. At Chicago O’Hare, before catching my train to another terminal, I stepped outside to get a breath of some fresh air. The next door down, Dave had stepped out to smoke a cigarette before catching his train. We waved and I walked over. For some reason, he was suddenly full of questions about my idea of God and mentioned that I seemed to talk about God in a more specific way than he really saw things. He said I seemed to mention Jesus a lot, but he really saw God as more of a general force of energy in the world. I was trying to explain how I believed the energy force of God is the power of His love being constantly expressed in the world by His Holy Spirit, and that He reveals the nature of His love in Jesus. When we started talking about how love requires relationship and how God created us for a personal relationship instead of being distant, he asked me if I wanted to join him in the airport bar for a beer. I walked with him as we continued our incredibly deep discussion of faith. Pretty soon, he was asking about the miracles again. I showed him one of the testimony pictures on my lap top, and suddenly he was talking about the pain he’s had for ten years from a bulged disc in his lower back. I told him I was really excited to see if God was going to be continuing to heal people back in America like He was in Pakistan, and asked if he’d like to be the first person I prayed with since coming home. He said “sure” and the next thing I know, we’re standing up in the airport bar, with me laying hands on his back and praying for healing in the name of Jesus. His pain went down from a “6” to a “2” and he was really smiling as he bent over and twisted around in ways he couldn’t do before! I said let’s go for “0” and no pain at all. We prayed again—all in the very specific name of Jesus and by the power of His blood, out of God’s personal love for Dave. This time, he was ready for me to lead him a prayer to ask Jesus to completely heal him. And all the pain went completely went away! He laughed as he mentioned the cigarettes and bear and some other sins that had been in his life. I told him, “That’s the point. It’s not about the rules; it’s about the relationship. Then a changed heart starts to change our desires and habits.” That made it really easy to connect the dots about the very personal nature of this God and His energy and power of love, very specifically revealed and displayed in the name of Jesus! Thank You, Lord. I can already see You’ve given me a deeper faith and greater boldness to share the hope that is within me in gentleness and love, but with authority in the confidence of Your name, all by Your grace. As I begin to live out the faith and hope and love You’ve been pouring into me in these days, help me share it in ways that bring others to You in gentleness and reverence—whether in airport bars or anywhere else my journey with You will lead. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, thank you for your prayers for me in ministry to the people of Pakistan. It's amazing to see all the Lord is doing! As I've shared with our intercessory prayer team, we are hearing incredible testimonies of healing and deliverance from our healing revival meetings. By the grace of God, the Lord keeps increasing my personal faith and boldness to preach and to pray, as I'm surrounded by people so hungry and thirsty for an encounter with Jesus. Praise God! God is on the move in the earth in these days, and I join with you in crying out to Him to move in the power and glory of His name in our nations and all the nations of the earth. Come to The Mountain! Tonight, Monday, December 21st at 7PM, to hear special guest speaker Henri Haber, whose father is a well respected leader of our Jewish Community in Lexington, and a Holocaust survivor. Our weekly prayer meeting for Isreal and the peace of Jerusalem are led by Bob and Doris McCray and hosted at New Life Church, 2601 Clays Mill Rd (corner of Clays Mill and Hill n' Dale) in Lexington. All are welcome! Contact Doris for details at bndmccray@windstream.net Please prayerfully keep Messiah Ministries in mind for your Year-end and Christmas giving to the ministries of the Kingdom of God. I hope you find our ministry to be good soil to sow your seeds for the growing maturity of the God's Kingdom on earth. I'll be glad to speak with you personally about our vision and calling in ministry if you'd like to join with us in your prayer and financial support. Thank You! to our Isaiah 35 Covenant Partners and other supporters in prayer and finances who make this ministry possible at home and abroad to the nations. "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come" (Matthew 24:14). January 27-30, 2010: The Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry--Level 1 A focused time of teaching, equipping, discipleship and mentoring, personal ministry in a fun and spiritual atmosphere of worship and prayer led by Tommy Hays and our team at 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 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 more information or to Register for The Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry please click on this link: Information/RegisterSchoolOfMinistryLevelOne Subscribe for 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 Order my Books, Free to Be Like Jesus and Morning by Morning, or our other Ministry Resources or Contribute On-line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

“Increase Our Faith!” 12-18-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are my King. You are the Creator and the Center of everything. … “The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’ The Lord replied, ‘If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea, and it would obey you’ ” (Luke 17:5-6). I’m flying home now, after ten days full of nightly healing revival meetings in Pakistan, sharing the love of God revealed in Jesus Christ with the people of this land who were hungry to come and hear. And what amazing sights I’ve seen, as You stretched out Your mighty right hand to save and to heal in ways I’ve only dreamed. These may have been the most exciting ten days of my life. Down inside, I’ve always yearned to be one of Your evangelists who would go to the nations and proclaim the gospel of Your Kingdom, even risking my life, to see souls saved, bodies healed, and demons cast out just in the name of Jesus just like Your first disciples (Luke 9:1-3). And by the grace of God, with the heart of the Father, the power of the Holy Spirit, in the name of Jesus, I have. Praise Your holy name! I saw a blind man healed to see, a mute man delivered to speak, a crippled woman strengthened in her muscles, a demon-possessed man of another religion delivered from evil and set free of his tormented thoughts, a man begin to praise You in tongues for the first time, a kidney stone dissolved on the spot, many ask Jesus to come as Lord into their hearts, and so much more. And those were just some of the things I saw in front of me with my own eyes. I’ve heard more every day and expect to hear of even so much incredibly more. All by power of the grace of God, I loved to encounter Your Presence and experience Your power in these ways that You displayed Your love for Your people who humbled themselves to call on Your name in faith. And now as I fly back and transition to another world, I wonder if I will find this kind of faith at home. I wonder if I will still find this kind of faith in me. I’m remembering Your words, “When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8) What comes to mind is and rises in my heart is “Lord, increase our faith!” (v. 17:5) You are the same God in America that You are in Pakistan. We need as much salvation, healing, and deliverance as they do—maybe more. And Lord Jesus, You are the same “yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). You are the God who never changes, no matter our nation, no matter our inclination (James 1:17). So Lord, all by Your grace, I choose to believe. Keep delivering me from any of my unbelief. Keep increasing my faith. And in the faith that pleases You, let me expect to see more of You and more Your love and more of Your power in every area of my life and every life and every place You send me. I prayed to never be the same after this ministry trip—I’m not; and You are. Hallelujah! Praise You Jesus! In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Morning by Morning, Wednesday 12-16-09 – Blessed are the Poor; Mighty is their God Good morning, Lord Jesus. Your name is the name above every name—in every land in all the earth and here in my heart. … “May all kings bow down before Him, all nations give Him service. For He delivers the needy when they call, the poor and those who have no helper. He has [compassion] on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy. From oppression and violence, He redeems their life, and precious is their blood in His sight” (Psalm 72:11-14). A few nights ago was a holy night to me. In the evening we went outside the city of Lahore, Pakistan in the Punjab region to a village far off the main road, down a dark and rutty road. From our vehicle we walked through the winding corridors by flashlight until we came to the big tent in the center of the village. All the electrical power was out. But the night sky was crisp and clear, filled with the sparkling lights of the stars above us, reminding me of the millions of mighty warring and worshipping angels of heaven’s host, ready to join us in the praise and the battle to come. And the closer we came to the tent, the louder we heard the songs of worship and praise to the glorious One before whom all kings must bow and all nations must serve. After we worshipped in the dark and I shook hands with those who had come to look and see in the back of the tent, the lights came on. Smiling faces of children covered us with rose petals and danced before the Lord. The hands of the people were waving high in hallelujahs of praise to the King of kings and Lord of lords as the name of Jesus was lifted high over this village and proclaimed into the spiritual realm. As I received their welcome and gave my greetings to the Christians and Muslims who had come to experience this healing revival meeting, I noticed so many were wearing no shoes. This was a very poor village, full of very needy and hurting people. Yet here they were, singing praises to God in the dark and the cold, excited to see what God would do in their lives, while praising Your name for all You have already done and all that You are. You have a heart for the poor. And Your compassion began to swell in my heart with Your Father heart as I looked out with tears at Your sons and daughters, longing for each one there to know Your love and experience Your power. And so they did. By the grace of God You moved by Your Holy Spirit in the power of Your love through the preaching and praying, boldly proclaiming healing and deliverance in the name of Jesus. So many wanted prayer in such an atmosphere of Your Presence. We all knew that surely the Presence of the Lord was in this place, and Your power was present to heal (Luke 5:17). I could see the joy on their faces after we prayed, and we are hearing so many reports from the pastors of all that You are continuing to do among these hungry hearts of the poor and needy who had come seeking Your face and embracing Your grace: A young girl came up for prayer and to say she received Jesus in her heart; a little boy with a fractured arm was able to move it again; a little boy who could not hear or speak began to talk the next day; many were freed of joint, body pain, and head pain instantly; a tumor on the shoulder of woman shriveled away; a man in his customary Muslim attire who was tormented by demonic spirits in his mind was set free and restored to his right mind; and so much more! Some things happened instantly and others over the next day or so, but we were all touched and moved by the Presence of God and outpouring of Your Spirit as we proclaimed the name of Jesus. Many joined in prayers asking Jesus into their hearts. And all our lives will never be the same! I don’t always understand Your ways and why it seems You move so mightily in the lives of so many in some cultures and places for Your purposes. But I do know You have a great heart for the poor who have no help but You. And I do know that there is some kind of spiritual dynamic that is released when hungry desperation and undoubting faith collide in an atmosphere of Your Presence. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled” (Matthew 5:6). So I desperately, faithfully pray that by the grace of God what I’ve seen You do in Pakistan, You will continue to do in the cultures and nations, the cities and villages, the hearts and minds of all people of all nations of the earth in our generation and those to come. But for this day, I praise the name of Jesus for what I’ve seen You do in my heart and in the hearts of so many who are so hungry for so much more of You. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, thank you for your prayers for me in ministry to the people of Pakistan. It's amazing to see all the Lord is doing! As I've shared with our intercessory prayer team, we are hearing incredible testimonies of healing and deliverance from our healing revival meetings. By the grace of God, the Lord keeps increasing my personal faith and boldness to preach and to pray, as I'm surrounded by people so hungry and thirsty for an encounter with Jesus. Praise God! God is on the move in the earth in these days, and I join with you in crying out to Him to move in the power and glory of His name in our nations and all the nations of the earth. Come to The Fountain! This Friday Night December 18th at 7PM, the 3rd Friday Night of every month, for our Messiah Ministries monthly gathering for prayer, praise, and healing worship. Led by Messiah Ministries and hosted at Centenary United Methodist Church, 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky. Come drink deeply from The Fountain of Living Waters as we worship Jesus in the freedom of His Holy Spirit. Pastor Linda Dulin will be leading in Prayer and Kerry Dorrell will be leading in Worship. All are welcome and spread the word! Contact Marilyn Walker for details: DirOfMinistries@aol.com 859-422-1794 Many thanks to our Isaiah 35 Covenant Partners and other supporters in prayer and finances who make this ministry possible at home and abroad to the nations. "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come" (Matthew 24:14). Please prayerfully keep Messiah Ministries in mind for your Year-end and Christmas giving to the ministries of the Kingdom of God. I hope you find our ministry to be good soil to sow your seeds for the growing maturity of the God's Kingdom on earth. I'll be glad to speak with you personally about our vision and calling in ministry if you'd like to join with us in your prayer and financial support. Subscribe for 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 Order my Books, Free to Be Like Jesus and Morning by Morning, or our other Ministry Resources or Contribute On-line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Blessed are the Poor; Mighty is their God 12-16-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Your name is the name above every name—in every land in all the earth and here in my heart. … “May all kings bow down before Him, all nations give Him service. For He delivers the needy when they call, the poor and those who have no helper. He has [compassion] on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy. From oppression and violence, He redeems their life, and precious is their blood in His sight” (Psalm 72:11-14). A few nights ago was a holy night to me. In the evening we went outside the city of Lahore, Pakistan in the Punjab region to a village far off the main road, down a dark and rutty road. From our vehicle we walked through the winding corridors by flashlight until we came to the big tent in the center of the village. All the electrical power was out. But the night sky was crisp and clear, filled with the sparkling lights of the stars above us, reminding me of the millions of mighty warring and worshipping angels of heaven’s host, ready to join us in the praise and the battle to come. And the closer we came to the tent, the louder we heard the songs of worship and praise to the glorious One before whom all kings must bow and all nations must serve. After we worshipped in the dark and I shook hands with those who had come to look and see in the back of the tent, the lights came on. Smiling faces of children covered us with rose petals and danced before the Lord. The hands of the people were waving high in hallelujahs of praise to the King of kings and Lord of lords as the name of Jesus was lifted high over this village and proclaimed into the spiritual realm. As I received their welcome and gave my greetings to the Christians and Muslims who had come to experience this healing revival meeting, I noticed so many were wearing no shoes. This was a very poor village, full of very needy and hurting people. Yet here they were, singing praises to God in the dark and the cold, excited to see what God would do in their lives, while praising Your name for all You have already done and all that You are. You have a heart for the poor. And Your compassion began to swell in my heart with Your Father heart as I looked out with tears at Your sons and daughters, longing for each one there to know Your love and experience Your power. And so they did. By the grace of God You moved by Your Holy Spirit in the power of Your love through the preaching and praying, boldly proclaiming healing and deliverance in the name of Jesus. So many wanted prayer in such an atmosphere of Your Presence. We all knew that surely the Presence of the Lord was in this place, and Your power was present to heal (Luke 5:17). I could see the joy on their faces after we prayed, and we are hearing so many reports from the pastors of all that You are continuing to do among these hungry hearts of the poor and needy who had come seeking Your face and embracing Your grace: A young girl came up for prayer and to say she received Jesus in her heart; a little boy with a fractured arm was able to move it again; a little boy who could not hear or speak began to talk the next day; many were freed of joint, body pain, and head pain instantly; a tumor on the shoulder of woman shriveled away; a man in his customary Muslim attire who was tormented by demonic spirits in his mind was set free and restored to his right mind; and so much more! Some things happened instantly and others over the next day or so, but we were all touched and moved by the Presence of God and outpouring of Your Spirit as we proclaimed the name of Jesus. Many joined in prayers asking Jesus into their hearts. And all our lives will never be the same! I don’t always understand Your ways and why it seems You move so mightily in the lives of so many in some cultures and places for Your purposes. But I do know You have a great heart for the poor who have no help but You. And I do know that there is some kind of spiritual dynamic that is released when hungry desperation and undoubting faith collide in an atmosphere of Your Presence. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled” (Matthew 5:6). So I desperately, faithfully pray that by the grace of God what I’ve seen You do in Pakistan, You will continue to do in the cultures and nations, the cities and villages, the hearts and minds of all people of all nations of the earth in our generation and those to come. But for this day, I praise the name of Jesus for what I’ve seen You do in my heart and in the hearts of so many who are so hungry for so much more of You. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, thank you for your prayers for me in ministry to the people of Pakistan. It's amazing to see all the Lord is doing! As I've shared with our intercessory prayer team, we are hearing incredible testimonies of healing and deliverance from our healing revival meetings. By the grace of God, the Lord keeps increasing my personal faith and boldness to preach and to pray, as I'm surrounded by people so hungry and thirsty for an encounter with Jesus. Praise God! God is on the move in the earth in these days, and I join with you in crying out to Him to move in the power and glory of His name in our nations and all the nations of the earth. Come to The Fountain! This Friday Night December 18th at 7PM, the 3rd Friday Night of every month, for our Messiah Ministries monthly gathering for prayer, praise, and healing worship. Led by Messiah Ministries and hosted at Centenary United Methodist Church, 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky. Come drink deeply from The Fountain of Living Waters as we worship Jesus in the freedom of His Holy Spirit. Pastor Linda Dulin will be leading in Prayer and Kerry Dorrell will be leading in Worship. All are welcome and spread the word! Contact Marilyn Walker for details: DirOfMinistries@aol.com 859-422-1794 Many thanks to our Isaiah 35 Covenant Partners and other supporters in prayer and finances who make this ministry possible at home and abroad to the nations. "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come" (Matthew 24:14). Please prayerfully keep Messiah Ministries in mind for your Year-end and Christmas giving to the ministries of the Kingdom of God. I hope you find our ministry to be good soil to sow your seeds for the growing maturity of the God's Kingdom on earth. I'll be glad to speak with you personally about our vision and calling in ministry if you'd like to join with us in your prayer and financial support. Subscribe for 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 Order my Books, Free to Be Like Jesus and Morning by Morning, or our other Ministry Resources or Contribute On-line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Bold Words, Mighty Signs 12-15-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Son of God, Savior of all, You are the Healer of our hearts, minds, bodies, and sprits. And I freely choose to give my life daily in trusting submission to Your love and Your will. … “And now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak Your Word with all boldness, while You stretch out Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of Your holy servant Jesus” (Acts 4:29-30). In this nation of Pakistan, there is great pressure against proclaiming the name of Jesus on many levels, both in the natural realm and the spiritual realm. But there is no containing the joy in the hearts of those who come to know Your mercy and love and the power of Your name. Each night as You give me grace to boldly proclaim the salvation and glory of Your holy name in the power of Your Holy Spirit, I am amazed at all I see before my eyes. Many are so ready to open their hearts to You, as they see and experience Your power and love. The people here are so hungry for Your truth and an encounter with Your Presence. Their faith and expectancy of Your Word going forth with confirmation in Your power is so amazing. They expect to be saved when they welcome You into their hearts and they expect to be healed when You touch their bodies. And they are! Then they tell their testimonies and impart their faith to all who will hear, and then those who have heard want to come and see all that You have done and all that You will do. As You said of the Centurion’s faith who completely believed in the power of Your authority to save and to heal, never “have I found such faith” (Luke 7:9). I praise You, Lord God. You are the Savior and Healer of all who will call on Your name and trust in Your love. And You are increasing my faith as I see such hunger and faith in the hearts to the people of the land who are experiencing such an encounter with You and awakening of their lives. Thank You for allowing me to come and join in what You are doing in them and in me. Thank You for all those You’ve called to join me in prayer for Your kingdom to come and Your will to be done here in Pakistan and in our hearts and in all the earth as it in heaven. May Your Word continue to be proclaimed here and in every nation with all boldness, as You stretch out Your mighty hand to save and to heal with mighty signs of the glory and power 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 in ministry to the people of Pakistan. It's amazing to see all the Lord is doing! As I've sharing with our intercessory prayer team, we are hearing incredible testimonies of healing and deliverance from our healing revival meetings. By the grace of God, the Lord keeps increasing my personal faith and boldness to preach and to pray, as I'm surrounded by people so hungry and thirsty for an encounter with Jesus. Praise God! He is moving in the nations of the earth, and I join with you in crying out to Him to move in the power and glory of His name in our nations and all the nations of the earth. Many thanks to our Isaiah 35 Covenant Partners and other supporters in prayer and finances who make this ministry possible at home and abroad to the nations. "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come" (Matthew 24:14). Please prayerfully keep Messiah Ministries in mind for your Year-end and Christmas giving to the ministries of the Kingdom of God. I hope you find our ministry to be good soil to sow your seeds for the growing maturity of the God's Kingdom on earth. Subscribe for 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 Order my Books, Free to Be Like Jesus and Morning by Morning, or our other Ministry Resources or Contribute On-line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

We Have Seen a Great Light 12-12-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Let your light shine in me. By the grace of God, let Your light shine through me. … “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined. You have multiplied the nation, You have increased its joy; they rejoice before You as with joy at the harvest…. For a Child has been born for us, a Son given to us” (Isaiah 9:2-3). I’m moved to tears with the joy that You would allow me to come and share this gospel of the Your Kingdom and minister Your healing love to help prepare the way of the Lord in hearts and land of the people of Pakistan. Thank You for the simple message of mercy and love You’ve given me to share with hungry hearts, Muslim and Christian alike, almost overwhelmed with the darkness of our broken, fallen world, where all hurt and we all sin and we all need the love of God revealed in Jesus the Christ. But You are Light in the midst of darkness. And You perfectly reveal the heart of God toward all who need hope and peace through the forgiving, freeing, healing love of God. For God is a good Father. And He has a Son. And His name is Jesus! Thank You, Jesus, for coming into our hearts and changing our lives. Thank You for cleansing our souls, setting us free, and making us whole. Thank You for shining Your light in our lives and through our lives to others. Though we are a people who live in great darkness—whether in our own hearts or in the heart of the world—we have seen a Great Light in You. Let the light of Your glory shine in Pakistan and America and in the nations of the earth. Let the light of Your glory shine in me and in all who will call on Your name and be saved from their sins and for Your glory. “Arise, shine! For your Light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you!” (Isaiah 60:1). In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, the Love was moving among us in a deeply personal and loving way by the glory of His Presence last night at our first revival meeting among Christian and Muslim people seeking the peace that only Christ can offer. Many are coming and putting their faith and hope in the Lord! Tonight I will begin preaching a series of healing revival meetings in public and in churches in the Lahore, Punjab region of Pakistan. Please keep us in your prayers and thank you for joining and sharing with me in the journey of proclaiming the good news of the gospel of the kingdom to the nations. "For the share of the one who goes down into battle shall be the same as the share of the one who stays by the baggage; they shall share alike" (1 Samuel 30:24). Many thanks to our Isaiah 35 Covenant Partners and other supporters who make this ministry possible at home and abroad to the nations. "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come" (Matthew 24:14). Subscribe for 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 Order my Books, Free to Be Like Jesus and Morning by Morning, or our other Ministry Resources or Contribute On-line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Peace for Isaac and Ishmael 12-11-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Lord of the stars of the heavens, Lord of the nations of the earth, be Lord of my life this day. … “Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people. His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpalah, in the field of Ephron so of Zohar the Hittite, east of Mamre, the field that Abraham purchased from the Hittites. There Abraham was buried, with his wife Sarah” (Genesis 25:8-10). Both the sons of Abraham—Isaac and Ishmael, the son of Sarah and the son of Hagar—came together to honor their father at the end of his days. Perhaps the pain and resentment of their broken family were set aside in respect for the one who gave them life. Perhaps this speaks of the healing and reconciliation that can come to all when we turn our hearts to honor our Father who gives us life. And we can only truly know life when we know the One who is Life—the Way, the Truth, and the Life—for “no one comes to the Father, except through (You, Lord Jesus)” (John 14:6). And when we come to know You, we come to know our Father also (v. 14:7). For You and the Father are One (v. 14:11). In You, there is healing and reconciliation for all—even for all the descendants of Isaac and Ishmael. “For in Christ Jesus (we) are all children of God through faith. As many of (us) who were baptized into Christ have clothed (ourselves) with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male or female; for all of (us) are one in Christ Jesus. And if (we) belong to Christ, then (we) are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise…. And because (we) are children, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ So (we) are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God” (Galatians 3:26-4:7). You are the “Prince of Peace” for Isaac and Ishmael and for all people of all nations and generations (Isaiah 9:6). You alone are our only true Source and only true Hope of true peace. “For in (You) all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through (You) God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of (Your) cross” (Colossians 1:19-20). “But now in Christ Jesus, you who were once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He is our Peace; in His flesh He made both groups into and has broken down the diving wall, that is, the hostility between us… So He came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through Him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father” (Ephesians 2:13-18). In Jesus Christ alone, will the sons and daughters of Isaac and Ishmael, of all tribes and tongues and nations of the earth, know the peace our Father longs for us to have by Your Spirit. So come, Lord Jesus, reveal Your truth and Your peace, as we turn our hearts to honor our Father. Then in You, we will be healed and reconciled to God and to one another. There is no other Way. “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved” and by which we may have peace (Acts 4:12). In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, tonight I will begin preaching a series of healing revival meetings in public and in churches in the Lahore, Punjab region of Pakistan. Please keep us in your prayers and thank you for joining and sharing with me in the journey of proclaiming the good news of the gospel of the kingdom to the nations. "For the share of the one who goes down into battle shall be the same as the share of the one who stays by the baggage; they shall share alike" (1 Samuel 30:24). Many thanks to our Isaiah 35 Covenant Partners and other supporters who make this ministry possible at home and abroad to the nations. "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come" (Matthew 24:14). Subscribe for 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 Order my Books, Free to Be Like Jesus and Morning by Morning, or our other Ministry Resources. They make great Christmas presents! or Contribute: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

The Wilderness of Hagar and Ishmael 12-9-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Wherever I go, You are there. Wherever I am, You are here. … “The angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur. And He said, ‘Hagar, slave-girl of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?’ She said, ‘I am running away from my mistress Sarai.’ The angel of the Lord said to her, ‘Return to your mistress, and submit to her.’ The angel of the Lord also said to her, ‘I will so greatly multiply your offspring that they cannot be counted for multitude.’ And the angel of the Lord said to her, ‘Now you have conceived and will bear a son; you shall call him Ishmael, for the Lord has given heed to your affliction. He shall be a wild ass of a man, with his hand against everyone, and everyone’s hand against him; and his shall live at odds with all his kin.’ So she named the Lord who spoke to her, ‘You are El-roi,’ for she said, ‘Have I really seen God and remained alive after seeing Him?’ Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; it lies between Kadesh and Bered. Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram named his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore him Ishmael” (Genesis 16:7-16). Right now, I’m flying over the wilderness. I don’t mean any wilderness. I mean, “The Wilderness”—where Moses led the children of Israel out of the bondage of Egypt, where Moses took off his shoes on the holy ground of the burning bush, and where Hagar fled from her harsh mistress, Sarai, who had grown bitter and jealous from the delay of the promises of God in her life (v. 16:1-6). Somewhere beneath the wings of this plane lie both Mount Horeb and Mecca, the land where the descendants of both Isaac and Ishmael have walked and lived, as revealed and recorded in the Word of God. In this wilderness, You appeared to Hagar, the mother of Ishmael, the mother of the Arabic nations, who would later follow a religion called Islam. And here in this wilderness, You spoke to Hagar a command to return to Abram and Sarai, with her son in her womb. And, at the same time, You spoke a blessing over her, that the descendants of her son would be greatly multiplied, even though they would also experience contention and strife with all people all around them. Even before Isaac was born under the blessing of Your covenant with Abraham, You first called Abraham and his son Ishmael to be circumcised as a mark and seal of their place in Your heart (v. 17:23-27). And before Abraham and Sarah held Isaac in their arms, the son of the covenant of Your promise, You first spoke a blessing over Ishmael: “As for Ishmael, I have heard you; I will bless him and make him fruitful and exceedingly numerous; he shall be the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this season next year” (v. 17:20-21). Sadly, Sarah seemed to be jealous of Hagar and her son Ishmael, concerned for the inheritance of Sarah’s son Isaac. And though “the matter was greatly distressing to Abraham on account of his son,” Abraham sent Hagar and Ishmael away into the wilderness, but with the promise of God to “make a great nation of him also” (v. 21:9-14). But there in the wilderness, through their sense of rejection, abandonment, and shame, You did not forget Hagar and her son, Ishmael. You spoke to her through Your angel in the desert: “Do not be afraid; for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. Come, lift up the boy, and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make a great nation of him” (v. 21:15-19). Though it seemed Ishmael was cast away by his earthly father along with his mother, You did not leave him nor forsake him. And Despite what he must have thought and what his descendants of the nations and generations since him may think, You were always with him: “God was with the boy, and he grew up; he lived in the wilderness of Paran; and his mother got a wife for him in the land of Egypt” (v. 21:20-21). O Lord, as I continue on in my journey across this ancient wilderness and on to ministry among the sons and daughters of Ishmael in Pakistan, give me Your heart for each of them and for their land. With Your heart and Your words, with Your message of hope and love, and Your prayers for restoration of peace in their souls and toward their neighbors, let me be a light in the midst of darkness. In the healing love of God, let me lead them to the One who is the Light, to the One who has never forgotten them, never rejected or abandoned them, and never forsaken them. Though these sons and daughters of Ishmael, through the brokenness, confusion, and devastation of generations dating back to their first father, may believe that God is no Father and He has no Son, let them hear Your heart and know Your truth. Continue to reveal Yourself to them in their dreams and through the mercy and power of Your grace as Issa—Jesus who is their healer and prince of peace. And let them come to know that God is a Father, that God has created them for a personal relationship of love, for “God is love” (1 John 4:8). And that God loves them so much He gave His only begotten Son for them so that they would never feel Fatherless, rejected, abandoned, or ashamed (John 3:16). They are welcome home into the arms of the One who promised to bless them and make a fruitful and mighty nation of them, as sons and daughters of Abraham and Ishmael (Genesis 17:20). In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I have now made it to Pakistan safely into the home of my host pastor and his family for a day to visit and rest. Tomorrow night I will be preaching my first revival meeting. Please keep us in your prayers and thank you for joining and sharing with me in the journey of proclaiming the good news of the gospel of the kingdom to the nations. "For the share of the one who goes down into battle shall be the same as the share of the one who stays by the baggage; they shall share alike" (1 Samuel 30:24). Subscribe for 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 Order my Books, Free to Be Like Jesus and Morning by Morning, or our other Ministry Resources. They make great Christmas presents! or Contribute: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Equal Share of Joy 12-8-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Into Your hands I commit my spirit, my soul, and my body, all that I am and all that I have, this day and every day. … “For the share of the one who goes down into the battle shall be the same as the share of the one who stays by the baggage; they shall share alike” (1 Samuel 30:24). I’ve boarded my plane and begun my journey to the nation of Pakistan, going down into the battle to carry the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of this land. May they see the nature of Christ in my heart, the love of God in my eyes, and the power of the Holy Spirit in my prayers. May Your holy angels surround me and Your Holy Spirit go before me to prepare the way of the Lord in my heart and theirs. May every plan and scheme of the enemy of our souls be exposed and cancelled by the blood of the Lamb; and may all that is intended for evil be used for good, as the love of God and glory of Your gospel is proclaimed to all. And thank You so much for the army of prayer warriors You have raised to cover my back and open the way through the intercession of these saints. These who stay behind on their knees in prayer are just as significant as the one who goes down into the battle on the ground. We are all on the front lines of this battle—in the heavens and on the earth. Our reward is the same—the joy of knowing You and obeying Your will so that all who come to a knowledge of the truth of God revealed in Jesus Christ through the sacrifice of Your love for us on the cross is bolding, lovingly share with all people of all nations. For it has always been in Your heart to be patient and merciful with us all, of every culture, nation, and generation, “not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). “For God so love the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16, NKJV). Thank You for this calling upon my life, and thank You for calling so many others to come along with me in the journey and down into the battle. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays My friends, thank you so much for joining with me in the journey and down into the battles as the Lord leads. Please pray for my flight to leave out of Chicago on time tonight through this snow storm that is delaying many flights, and for safe travel and ministry all along the way for these 10 days of ministry in Pakistan. I'll be preaching and ministering at revival meetings in public and in churches. "And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world, as a testimony to all the nations; and then the end will come" (Matthew 24:14). I couldn't do my part in my generation without you! We do it together with the gifts God alone has given each of us. God bless you! Great is your reward (Matthew 6:4). And great is my thanks to you! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Subscribe for 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 Order my Books, Free to Be Like Jesus and Morning by Morning, or our other Ministry Resources. They make great Christmas presents! or Contribute: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Make Room, Make Ready 12-7-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. O come let us adore You. ... “But the angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. You will have joy and gladness and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink; even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before Him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Luke 1:13-17). Before the coming of the Messiah was the coming a prophet in the spirit and power of Elijah. He was filled with the Holy Spirit and focused on fulfilling his mission to “make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” His ministry was to turn hearts to God in preparation and anticipation of the coming of the King to rule and reign in the hearts of His people. For their hearts were to be His Kingdom. “He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord.... And all flesh shall see the salvation of God’ ” (Luke 3:3-6). Repentance made room in their hearts and made ready for the King—as they turned away from the world and toward the Messiah, away from their past and toward their destiny, away from the things that are temporary and toward the things that are eternal. That same spirit and power of Elijah, to turn hearts to God, is being released upon the earth in this season, looking forward to the celebration of the birth of Christ, our Messiah. Our hearts that have been hardened by our world, distracted by our busyness, and tainted by our sin, are drawn to the hope of the humble Child to be born in a manger and destined to live in our hearts. And as we hear the call to repent and turn, as we pause from our performance and cease from our striving, as we watch with excited anticipation and wait with eager longing, Your Spirit makes our hearts ready for the One to come. The true Spirit of Christmas is the Holy Spirit of the Living God who comes to “make ready a people prepared for the Lord,” a people who make room in their hearts for the coming of Christ. Holy Spirit, make room in my heart, as You make me ready for the coming of my King. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays My friends, please keep us in prayer as I prepare to go preach a series of revival meetings for 10 days in Pakistan. I'll be trying to keep in touch as best as I can through my morning prayers and with our email prayer team. Thank you for going with me in the Spirit and in prayer. May the Lord send me in the spirit and power of Elijah to prepare the way of the Lord in the hearts of the people of this land His loves so much and longs to save. May all flesh see the salvation of God, as they turn their hearts to embrace the soon coming King. I couldn't serve in this kind of ministry without you! Friends, in this Christmas Season of celebrating the Gift of God in Jesus Christ, please prayerfully consider Messiah Ministries in your plans for year-end giving. I hope you see our ministry as good soil in which to sow your seeds for the harvest of the Kingdom of God. Through your partnership with us in prayer, support, and encouragement, we are able to go forth in our commission of "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" to many lives at home and abroad. Thank you for joining me in the journey! Subscribe for 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 Order my Books, Free to Be Like Jesus and Morning by Morning, or our other Ministry Resources. They make great Christmas presents! or Contribute: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

God’s Healing Glory 12-6-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. The heavens declare Your glory in the new day’s morning sun. And so do I in my heart, my prayers, and my praise. ... “The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, and His kingdom rules over all. Bless the Lord, O you His angels, you mighty ones who do His bidding, obedient to His spoken word. Bless the Lord, all His hosts, His ministers that do His will. Bless the Lord, all His works, in all places of His dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul!” (Psalm 103:19-22). We’ve come away together for a Healing Prayer Weekend at Asbury in Wilmore, Kentucky. And You have come away with us. Your Holy Spirit fills our hearts with worship. Your holy angels surround us as warriors in the battle, worshipers in the heavens, and witnesses of Your glory. In the healing love of God, You are binding up the brokenhearted and setting the captives free, comforting the mourning, cleansing the shamed, releasing the bound, and encouraging the discouraged. You are repairing the ancient ruins and restoring the devastations of many generations, as You display the love and power of the Father heart of God to Your seeking children (Isaiah 61). Let the heavens declare Your glory and the earth declare Your praise. Let our hearts rejoice in the mercy and goodness of our God, who awakens us to our calling and destiny in Christ. As we go forth today from this healing place, encouraged and empowered by Your Word and Your Spirit, let our lives display Your glory as we share with others what You have poured into us. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Please keep us in prayer for our Messiah Ministries Healing Prayer Weekend we're hosting at Asbury in Wilmore, Kentucky this weekend. Please keep us in prayer as I go to preach a series of healing revival meetings for 10 days in Pakistan. I'll be trying to keep in touch as best as I can through my morning prayers and with our email prayer team. Thank you for going with me in the Spirit and in prayer. I couldn't serve in this kind of ministry without you! Friends, in this Christmas Season of celebrating the Gift of God in Jesus Christ, please prayerfully consider Messiah Ministries in your plans for year-end giving. I hope you see our ministry as good soil in which to sow your seeds for the harvest of the Kingdom of God. Through your partnership with us in prayer, support, and encouragement, we are able to go forth in our commission of "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" to many lives at home and abroad. Thank you for joining me in the journey! Subscribe for 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 Order my Books, Free to Be Like Jesus and Morning by Morning, or our other Ministry Resources or Contribute: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

So Worthy 12-4-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I woke up early with Your Spirit writing a new song on my heart. You alone are worthy. ... You are my Savior And You are my King You are my Life Breath You’re my Everything I adore You O how I adore You In the darkest of places You are my Light When You send me to nations I am Your knight I adore You O how I adore You You are the One The only One Who is worthy O, who is worthy Of all my heart And all my soul Of all I am And all I have You are so worthy! In the lowest of valleys You’re by my side Over the highest of mountains You are my Guide I adore You O how I adore You Through trials and tribulation You give me strength Through my doubts and my questions You speak to me I adore You O how I adore You You are the One The only One Who is worthy O, who is worthy Of all my heart And all my soul Of all I am And all I have You are so worthy! So I keep giving my heart I keep giving my soul To the One who is worthy! You alone are worthy. Yes, Lord. You alone are worthy of all my heart and all my trust. And though You lead me to open my heart and trust others, You alone are the One who never leaves us and never forsakes us at any time or in any way (Hebrews 13:5). “No one shall be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous.... I herby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:5-9). Yes, Lord. I hear You. I trust You. And in the mercy of Your grace and the power of Your Spirit, I will obey You. By the grace of God, I will go where You lead and be who I am, in all You’ve created me to be and to do for Your good pleasure out of Your good nature. You are so worthy of all my faith and hope and love. You alone are worthy. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays My faithful friends, joining with me in the prayer journey of my life, thank you for your prayers, love, and encouragement. I remember you always in my prayers. In my life, some things are coming to a close and some things are opening up; I'm having to let go of some things, and I'm taking hold of others. I'm sure the same is true of you and in your journey in many ways. But God is with us. And in the mercy and power of His grace, we will press in to Him and press on in His will through it all. One day we will look back from the place of the surpassing glory of His greatness and say without a doubt, "It was worth it all." "For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen in temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:17-18). Amen. Let it be so, Lord Jesus. Please keep us in prayer for our Messiah Ministries Healing Prayer Weekend we're hosting at Asbury in Wilmore, Kentucky this weekend. Please keep us in prayer as I go to preach a series of healing revival meetings for 10 days in The Islamic Republic of Pakistan December 8 through 18. I'll be trying to keep in touch as best as I can through my morning prayers and with our email prayer team. Thank you for going with me in the Spirit and in prayer. I couldn't serve in this kind of ministry without you! Friends, in this Christmas Season of celebrating the Gift of God in Jesus Christ, please prayerfully consider Messiah Ministries in your plans for year-end giving. I hope you see our ministry as good soil in which to sow your seeds for the harvest of the Kingdom of God. Through your partnership with us in prayer, support, and encouragement, we are able to go forth in our commission of "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" to many lives at home and abroad. Thank you for joining me in the journey! Subscribe for 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 Order my Books, Free to Be Like Jesus and Morning by Morning, or our other Ministry Resources or Contribute: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Remembering the Story 12-4-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I am Yours. And in the mystery and majesty of Your unimaginable grace, You are mine. … “Since many have undertaken to set down an orderly account of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed on to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, I too decided, after investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the truth concerning the things about which you have been interested” (Luke 1:1-4). One thing I love about the Christmas season is rereading the story and remembering all the names, faces, and events that were fulfilled in those exciting days of Your first coming. We can hardly grasp what it would have been like to have been among those first eyewitnesses of those days of preparation and celebration among angels and humanity. Your Holy Spirit brings these holy words alive in our hearts, and fills our spirits afresh with wonder, expectancy, and anticipation. And we love to hand down the story to the next generation, as Your Spirit breathes life Your Word to burn in their hearts and awaken their hopes by the “declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us” (v. 1:1, KJV). As we hear and know the truth of these things, that same Spirit also stirs our hearts with excitement and anticipation for the wondrous events that will be fulfilled in Your second coming. In this Christmas season, let me hear again afresh the old, old story of Jesus and His love, of the Child who was born King and Christ, who would lay down His life, so that I could become part of His story. Let me not hurry through this season or be swallowed up by its busyness. And let me not be distracted by the craftiness of the one who would turn all my attention to the glitz and glamour of the world’s way of celebrating this season instead of looking to the One who came and who stills comes to seek and save the world. You still are and You will always be the reason for the season, the hero of the story, and the hope for our world. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, in this Christmas Season of celebrating the Gift of God in Jesus Christ, please prayerfully consider Messiah Ministries in your plans for year-end giving. I hope you see our ministry as good soil in which to sow your seeds for the harvest of the Kingdom of God. Through your partnership with us in prayer, support, and encouragement, we are able to go forth in our commission of "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" to many lives at home and abroad. Thank you for joining me in the journey! Subscribe for 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 Order my Books, Free to Be Like Jesus and Morning by Morning, or our other Ministry Resources or Contribute: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

A Lamp Prepared for the Anointed One 12-1-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Welcome, my Lord and Savior, my King and Friend. Welcome into every moment of my day. ... “For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His habitation: “This is My resting place forever; here I will reside, for I have desired it.... There I will cause a horn to sprout up for David; I have prepared a lamp for My Anointed One. His enemies I will clothe with disgrace, but on Him, His crown will gleam” (Psalm 132:13-18). So many prophecies of the Hebrew Scriptures speak of the coming Messiah, the Anointed One of God. You are the Son of David—Son of Man and Son of God, both fully human and fully Divine. You are One with the Father, yet You have humbled Yourself to become One with us and even One within us by Your Holy Spirit. And through Your sacrifice of deepest humility to restore each of us from our fallen nature to Your righteous nature in relationship with God, You’ve been given the place of highest honor: “And let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though He was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:5-11). So in the mystery of Your Father heart, Your Holy Spirit moved upon the womb of Mary, the lamp You prepared to shine forth Your Light, to conceive a Son from the bloodline of David in the land of Israel. And as the One who was both Son of God and Son of Man lived and loved among us, anointed by God as Messiah, the Christ, You crowned Him as King in Zion. Though with our natural eyes, His crown looked like a wreath of thorns, with our spiritual eyes we see a gleaming crown of God’s glory. In this season of preparation for the celebration of the coming of the King, who humbled Himself to be born as a Child in human form, fill my heart with expectation and anticipation, even with the excitement of a child yearning for the coming of Christmas morning. You have chosen Zion for Your habitation and resting place forever. You’ve also chosen my heart and the hearts of all who prepare You room in the lamp of our hearts to come and dwell, as we receive You as Messiah and crown You as King. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, in this Christmas Season of celebrating the Gift of God in Jesus Christ, please prayerfully consider Messiah Ministries in your plans for year-end giving. I hope you see our ministry as good soil in which to sow your seeds for the harvest of the Kingdom of God. Through your partnership with us in prayer, support, and encouragement, we are able to go forth in our commission of "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" to many lives at home and abroad. Thank you for joining me in the journey! Subscribe for 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 Order my Books, Free to Be Like Jesus and Morning by Morning, or our other Ministry Resources or Contribute: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

A Fresh Cut 11-30-09

Morning by Morning, Monday Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are One with the Father, One with the Holy Spirit. Be One within me, as I abide in You and You abide in me (John 15:4). ... “Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what should we do?’ Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God call to Him’ ” (Acts 2:37-39). My boys and I went to pick out our Christmas Tree this weekend. Before we strapped it onto the top of the Jeep for the ride home, the man at the tree lot took his saw and made a fresh cut on the bottom of the trunk. “That’ll let it drink up the water and keep it smelling fresh the whole season,” he said. Lord, I need “a fresh cut” every day. Cut me to the heart, so I can drink up the Living Waters of Your Holy Spirit every moment of every day. Keep my faith and my passion for You fresh. By Your grace, let my life release the fresh fragrance of Christ throughout this season and every season. “But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads in every place the fragrance that comes from knowing Him. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing...” (2 Corinthians 2:14-15). In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, as we transition from Thanksgiving to Christmas, I pray the Holy Spirit will fill you with anticipation for the celebration of the coming Messiah. I pray you will release the fragrance of Christ in this season when people around the world seem to be more open to hearing the Good News of Jesus Christ than any other time, and receiving His Spirit into their hearts. God bless you and Merry Christmas! Please prayerfully consider Messiah Ministries in your plans for year-end giving. I hope you see our ministry as good soil in which to sow your seeds for the harvest of the Kingdom of God. Through your partnership with us in prayer, support, and encouragement, we are able to go forth in our commission of "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" to many lives at home and abroad. Thank you for joining me in the journey! Subscribe for 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 Order my Books, Free to Be Like Jesus and Morning by Morning, or our other Ministry Resources or Contribute: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Turn and Take Hold of Life 11-28-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Lead me in the way that leads to life. ... “When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, ‘Then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life” (Acts 11:18). Lord, what is the “repentance that leads to life?” As I watch and wait, it seems I hear You speaking to my heart and bringing these thoughts to my mind: “To repent is to turn. All who turn their hearts to Me and open their hearts to My life. All who seek Me with all their hearts will find Me, and all who find Me find the meaning for their life.” Yes, Lord. Why is it that we must turn to You to find the meaning of our lives? “I created you for life with Me. There is no true life apart from Me. There is existence, but there is not life. I have created each one for purpose, calling, and destiny. I have created each one to live that out in relationship with Me. I am love. And love can only be expressed in relationship. And no one can enter into that relationship without repentance, without willingly choosing to turn and open their heart to Me. But as they do, they enter into the life that really is life.” Yes, Lord. I repent. I turn my heart to You. I open my heart to You. By the mercy and power of Your grace, help me live a lifestyle of repentance—continually turning and opening my heart to You. Every moment of every day, I want to turn and “take hold of the life that really is life” (1 Timothy 6:19). In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Subscribe for 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 Order my Books, Free to Be Like Jesus and Morning by Morning, or our other Ministry Resources or Contribute: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Turning Back to Say Thanks to God 11-27-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I wait in Your will and listen for Your voice, my Good Shepherd. ... “As (Jesus) entered a village, ten lepers approached Him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!’ When He saw them, He said to them, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked Him” (Luke 17:12-16). You are a loving God, a merciful God. And You are a healing God. You love to turn to those who call out Your name in the desperation of their circumstances. And with Your words and Your power, You draw near to those who are far away, even those who are keeping their distance. You heal in spirit, soul, and body. You remove the shame and restore dignity; You break through the barriers that separate people from You and isolate them from one another; and You express Your presence through Your power to change what has been into what it is meant to be. You are worthy of all our thanks and praise. You are worthy of our effort to take time to remember the One who frees us in spirit, restores us in soul, and heals us in body. With grateful hearts, we bow our hearts low and lift Your name high to thank You. In just the last couple of days, I’ve been hearing amazing stories of the power of Your healing love being made manifest in extraordinary ways. A woman suffering in so much pain in her legs from diabetes that she couldn’t make it to the altar to pray is now pain free and has normal blood sugar levels. A young girl in the hospital with leukemia was suddenly released to go home for the greatest Thanksgiving of her life. An elderly woman who feared the risk and cost of surgery on her eyes, praying she wouldn’t have to go, doesn’t have to go now. And how many more stories of Your healing love and power that we may never hear until we thank You and praise You together in the celebration of heaven! Sometimes healing comes in an instant, sometimes it comes as we go on our way. Sometimes it comes through those You choose to use in medicine or prayer or the natural means You’ve created in this earth. Sometimes it comes in the grace to persevere until the ultimate healing in the glory of resurrection. But all true healing always comes from You. “Every good and perfect gift is from above” (James 1:17). So I thank You for all the ways You have freed me, restored me, and healed me that my “spirit and soul and body may be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:23). And I thank You for letting me share in the joy of so many others giving You all the thanks and praise for the glory and power of Your name in our lives. I pray to hear and experience even more—“abundantly far more than we can ask or imagine”—in these amazing days of Your presence in preparation for Your coming. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Subscribe for 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 Order my Books, Free to Be Like Jesus and Morning by Morning, or our other Ministry Resources or Contribute: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Thanksgiving Proclamation 11-26-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Thank You for giving Your life out of Your love for me and for all. ... “Praise the Lord! O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever. Who can utter the mighty doings of the Lord, or declare all His praise?” (Psalm 106:1-2). The people of our nation set aside this day as day of Thanksgiving to God, a tradition deeply rooted in our national history. Of course, not all are thanking You for this day and our freedom and all the blessing we have from the One who is the source of every good and perfect gift (James 1:17). Some are just taking the day off and some even arrogantly deny the central role of prayer and praise of God in that first fall celebration of Your goodness and mercy among the Indians and Pilgrim of that first Thanksgiving Day at Plymouth Rock in 1621. But so many countless more, throughout generations, humbly and gratefully honor You and thank You for Your provision and grace in our lives and our nation. As I honor You today, I also honor those who have gone before me in a spirit of honor and thanksgiving. I’m reminded of the image of General George Washington, who knelt down in an open field with his army on the way to Valley Forge to pray for Your guidance and protection. And immediately after his inauguration as our first President, he issued “Presidential Proclamation Number One” as the very first Presidential Proclamation ever decreed by a President of the United States of America from his position of governmental authority on behalf of the people of our land, as declaration of Thanksgiving to You: Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to "recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:" Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us. And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best. Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the 3d day of October, A.D. 1789. — /signed/ G. Washington Lord, let our nation return to our roots, honoring You as “the great Lord and Ruler of Nations” who “pardons our national and other transgressions” and calls us to be “a blessing to all people.” May we yet turn again to You in another great awakening our hearts in a revival of thanksgiving and praise and fulfill our destiny as “one nation under God.” For it is “In God We Trust.” And You are the One True God, the one and only great Lord and Ruler of Nations. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Happy Thanksgiving, my friend! God bless you and thank you for joining with me in the journey of prayer. I pray for the Lord's abundant blessings -- exceeding abundantly more than you could ever ask or imagine -- in every area of your life in this new season (Ephesians 3:20)! Healing Prayer Retreat December 4-6. Come join us for a weekend away for worship and healing of spirit, soul, and body. You'll receive personal prayer ministry and understanding of biblical, spiritual principles of healing and freedom in Christ in a loving and safe environment, welcoming the healing presence of God. Hosted at the Asbury Inn at Asbury Seminary in Wilmore, KY. Please let us know right away if you're planning to come and spread the word! Sign up online: Information/RegisterHealingRetreat Contact Marilyn Walker, our Dir. of Ministries DirOfMinistries@aol.com Many of my friends have been expressing a desire to cover my ministry trip to Pakistan in prayer December 8-18, in specific ways. If you would like to join us, please send a note to me at tommyhays@aol.com or Pastor Linda Dulin, our Messiah Ministries Prayer Coordinator: dulin_linda@hotmail.com We have some significant additional expenses for this ministry trip and I would welcome your generous encouragement in prayer and financial support at this time for this opportunity to carry the Gospel of the Kingdom of God to the people of this Muslim Nation. I'll be leading a pastors' conference, a women's conference, and public evangelism and healing meetings at the invitation of my host ministry. God bless you and thank you! Subscribe free by email to me at Messiah Ministries --MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" Contribute Online or Order our Ministry Resources: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Joyfully Grateful 11-25-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I speak out Your name and welcome in Your Spirit. ... “I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He judged me faithful and appointed me to His service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence. But I received mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of which I am the foremost. But for that very reason, I received mercy, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience, making me an example to those who would come to believe in Him for eternal life” (1 Timothy 1:12-16). The other day I was praying in ministry with a young woman who was wrestling in agony deep down in her soul over a painful, shameful moment of her past. Suddenly she looked at me and asked, “Have you ever been ashamed of anything you’ve done?” One of the dark moments of my life immediately came to mind and before I even had time to think about it, I was saying, “Yes, I sure have.” For added confirmation, in a strangely humorous sort of way, my prayer partner seemed to find herself immediately saying at the same moment, “Yes, he sure has.” (She’s known me in two very different seasons of my life. And You’ve known me in them all, but You both are still willing to be my prayer partner!) But even as I was acknowledging out loud the truth of a painful, shameful moment of my own past, the emotion that rose up in me was not shame. It was not guilt or condemnation or even embarrassment. It was gratitude. I can even say it was a joyful gratitude. Not for what I had done, but for what You have done for me. You were reminding me of when I let You come into that dark moment deep down in my soul, where I had been bound up in self-condemnation, guilt, and regret for such a long time. You were reminding me of the peace and joy that flooded my soul when I finally gave it all to You, embracing the forgiveness of Your steadfast love and tender mercies. You didn’t take away the memory; You took away the shame. The scar of the memory remains, but when something touches that scar in the memory of my mind, only joyful gratitude to God wells up in my heart today. I know deeply and personally, part of what drove Paul to be so passionate in his pursuit of souls who needed to know the love of God revealed in the mercy of Christ. Thank You, Lord, for all Your “utmost patience” with Paul and with me. May You strengthen me in these memories of moments of all You’ve done for me, all You continue to do in me, and all You desire to do through me in the mercy and power of Your grace. May I be found faithful in the service to which You have appointed me of sharing the healing love of God and preparing the way of the Lord in the hearts and souls of women and men. With all that I am and all that I have, all by Your grace, I am grateful—joyfully grateful to You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Healing Prayer Retreat December 4-6. Come join us for a weekend away for worship and healing of spirit, soul, and body. You'll receive personal prayer ministry and understanding of biblical, spiritual principles of healing and freedom in Christ in a loving and safe environment, welcoming the healing presence of God. Hosted at the Asbury Inn at Asbury Seminary in Wilmore, KY. Please let us know right away if you're planning to come and spread the word! Sign up online: Information/RegisterHealingRetreat Contact Marilyn Walker, our Dir. of Ministries DirOfMinistries@aol.com Many of my friends have been expressing a desire to cover my ministry trip to Pakistan in prayer December 8-18, in specific ways. If you would like to join us, please send a note to me at tommyhays@aol.com or Pastor Linda Dulin, our Messiah Ministries Prayer Coordinator: dulin_linda@hotmail.com We have some significant additional expenses for this ministry trip and I would welcome your generous encouragement in prayer and financial support at this time for this opportunity to carry the Gospel of the Kingdom of God to the people of this Muslim Nation. I'll be leading a pastors' conference, a women's conference, and public evangelism and healing meetings at the invitation of my host ministry. God bless you and thank you! Subscribe free by email to me at Messiah Ministries --MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" Contribute Online or Order our Ministry Resources: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org