“Out of Darkness and Gloom” 3-24-10

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be with me at the center of my life, the foundation of my faith, and the beginning of my day. … “He brought them out of darkness and gloom, and broke their bonds asunder. Let them thank the Lord for His steadfast love, for His wonderful works to humankind. For He shatters the doors of bronze, and cuts in two the bars of iron” (Psalm 107:14-16). For several days now, I’ve seen You move suddenly to break through barriers and break off bondage that have held Your children bound in darkness and gloom. A young woman flooded with the joy of a happy heart she’s not known in years. A young couple brought out from under a heavy cloud of discouragement, disappointment, and doubt. A woman with pain buried deep down in her heart from the torment and terror of her past and struggling with pain in her body from the trauma of a time years ago suddenly set free from pain inside and outside. You are on the move! The light of Your glory is burning away the darkness and gloom! The “sun of righteousness” is rising over us “with healing in its wings;” and we are going about laughing and leaping and praising our God, “leaping like calves from the stall” (Malachi 4:2). At the same time, not every prayer is being answered with healing, freedom, and sudden breakthrough. We are all forever in need of Your grace and we have not yet seen the day that Your Kingdom has fully come in complete manifestation here on earth as it is in heaven. So in obedience to Your Word, revealing Your will, we keep praying and expecting, agreeing with Your will revealed in Your Word (Matthew 6:10). But we are praising You and thanking You for what we do see and for what we are choosing to believe by faith that we will see (2 Corinthians 5:7). And between this day and that day, we are standing with one another in prayer, fighting for one another in the Spirit, and expecting great things from our great God. This is one of the ways You call us to “love one another” (John 15:12). In some areas of our lives there are still dry days of desert and weary seasons of wilderness, but even there we’re praying in faith believing for the days of breakthrough to come. “For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert…. And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away!” (Isaiah 35:6-10). The disappointments from the days of darkness and gloom will be overcome by “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6). We thank You and praise You now for the breakthroughs we’ve seen and the breakthroughs we’ll see! Let the light of Your glory, the light of a new day of healing and freedom, break into our hearts and shine forth from our faces. In the joy that can only come from the Lord, You are smiling on us and we are smiling back at You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays My friends, I agree with God and His Word for the breakthroughs of healing and freedom in every area of your life in the name of Jesus. According to His will revealed in His Word, He is the God "who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's" (Psalm 103:3-5). I agree with you in prayer for this, my friend, in the name of Jesus. May you see breakthroughs in your life today and in the days to come. Friends, please let us know if you would be interested in ordering the dvd of our Celebration Evening with exciting pictures and stories of God's glory from ministry in Pakistan, Israel, and the Philippines: MessiahMin@aol.com We'll also make this available soon with our ministry resources on the resources page of our Messiah Ministries web site: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org I praise God for our dedicated team and army of volunteers and intercessors who made this Celebration possible! Many joined in commitments to join with us in monthly support in prayer and financial support as Isaiah 35 Covenant Partners of Messiah Ministries. Please prayerfully consider joining us as well in any way you can to help make this ministry possible at home and to the nations. I'll be glad to talk with you about the vision and calling of Messiah Ministries. Please send me a note if you or someone you know amy be interested at MessiahMin@aol.com God bless you! -- Tommy Hays, Messiah Ministries; 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Subscribe by email to Tommy Hays 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

“One Body and One Spirit” 3-23-10

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are One with the Father and One with the Spirit; yet somehow in the mystery and mercy of Your love, You desire to be One with me and each one of the sons and daughters of God. Lord, make me one with You, one with the others of Your body, and one in ministry to all the world. … “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all. But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it is said, ‘When He ascended on high, He made captivity itself a captive; He gave gifts to His people’” (Ephesians 4:4-7). Stir up the hope that is within me. Continue to awaken and strengthen my sense of Your calling and my understanding of Your gifting that You have placed in me for Your purposes. Rightly align me in Your kingdom, empower me for Your purposes, and unite me with Your body. In the power of Your love, You have set me free to be like Jesus, free to know I am a child of God, free to be filled with Your Holy Spirit, and free to discover who You’ve created me to be. This is the oneness of heart and life You desire in me and in Your body, so that we can each “lead a life worthy of the calling to which (we) have been called” (v. 4:1). And You’ve created us such that we cannot accomplish this alone—either apart from You or apart from one another. We can only truly find our identity and destiny in the bond of love with You and with one another, “bearing with one another in love” (v. 4:2). This is a high calling and a challenging calling, but a calling You’ve given to each of us to find our place alongside one another, “making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (v. 4:3). Only as we do, can we “come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ” (v. 4:13). In these days and in preparation now for the days to come, “we must no longer be children” … we must grow up (v. 4:14). We must no longer be so self-focused and self-centered. We no longer be so selfish and soulish, we must grow in spiritual maturity, which has much to do with our spiritual unity with You and with one another. It’s in the bond of unity where You command Your blessings for us and where You send us forth to be a Your blessing to others in the power of Your name (Psalm 133; John 17:20-21). In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please let us know if you would be interested in ordering the dvd of our Celebration Evening with exciting pictures and stories of God's glory from ministry in Pakistan, Israel, and the Philippines: MessiahMin@aol.com We'll also make this available with our ministry resources on the resources page of our Messiah Ministries web site: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org I praise God for our dedicated team and army of volunteers and intercessors who made this Celebration possible! Many joined in commitments to join with us in monthly support in prayer and financial support as Isaiah 35 Covenant Partners of Messiah Ministries. Please prayerfully consider joining us as well in any way you can to help make this ministry possible at home and to the nations. I'll be glad to talk with you about the vision and calling of Messiah Ministries. Please send me a note if you or someone you know amy be interested at MessiahMin@aol.com God bless you! -- Tommy Hays, Messiah Ministries; 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Subscribe by email to Tommy Hays 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

“Great God, Mighty and Awesome” 3-22-10

Good morning, Lord Jesus. My life is in Your hands. My day belongs to You. … “For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome…. He is your praise; He is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome things that your own eyes have seen” (Deuteronomy 10:17-21). With hearts full of praise and a room full of joy, we celebrated the greatness of our God this weekend. With pictures and testimonies of Your miracles from my ministry trip to Pakistan, we worshipped You in wonder and awe for the “great and awesome things that (our) own eyes have seen.” It stirred my faith again to see the pictures and remember the faces of so many who were touched and healed, freed and saved, by the hand of God: The throngs of people of a village instantly set free of tormenting pain in various areas of their bodies; the baby girl whose fever instantly vanished; the little boy who suddenly began to move his broken arm; the woman paralyzed on one side of her body from a stroke who was beginning to walk; the man who couldn’t speak shouting “Hallelujah!”; the woman who had been shivering for years now steady and calm in a moment; the man born blind in one eye who could now see; the young woman who praised God that Jesus was now in her heart, and so many more stories of Your glory and expressions of the power of Your love. Praise the mighty name of Jesus! Thank You for the chance to share my encounters with You in Israel and the Philippines, as I was blessed to begin this new year literally going around the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God to the nations. You are a great and awesome God, moving in power, preparing Your Bride, awakening Your people to arise and shine in newness of life to display the glory of Your name throughout the earth. Thank You for letting our ministry be a part of this move of God in the earth. And thank You for confirming Your heart of mercy and love with the moments of deep inner healing, breakthrough, and freedom You brought in the lives of some who lingered in the afterglow of our celebration and the manifest glory of Your Presence among us. What You are doing in these places of desperation and faith in pockets of the earth, You’re beginning to do right here at home as well. O Lord, increase our faith. Let us see more and more with our own eyes Your mighty power and Your great glory. This is a new day. This is a new season. Give us grace to persevere in faith, pressing through our disappointments of unanswered prayers, but holding fast to the truth that heaven is breaking into earth, Your Kingdom is coming, and the fame of Your great and awesome name is being made known here in our hearts at home and to the nations of the earth in these exciting days. “And this good news 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). In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please let us know if you would be interested in ordering the dvd of our Celebration Evening with these pictures and stories as soon as it's prepared: MessiahMin@aol.com We'll also make this available with our ministry resources on the resources page of our Messiah Ministries web site: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org I praise God for our dedicated team and army of volunteers and intercessors who made this Celebration possible! Many joined in commitments to join with us in monthly support in prayer and financial support as Isaiah 35 Covenant Partners of Messiah Ministries. Please prayerfully consider joining us as well in any way you can to help make this ministry possible at home and to the nations. I'll be glad to talk with you about the vision and calling of Messiah Ministries. Please send me a note if you or someone you know amy be interested at MessiahMin@aol.com God bless you! -- Tommy Hays, Messiah Ministries; 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Subscribe by email to Tommy Hays 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

“Come and See What God has Done” 3-19-10

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are mighty to save and worthy of praise. … You are mighty to save And worthy of praise We lift our hearts to You With our voices raised There is no God like You To whom all glory is due We magnify Your holy name And forever honor You … “Say to God, ‘How awesome are Your deeds! Because of Your great power, Your enemies cringe before You. All the earth worships You; they sing praises to You, sing praises to Your name.’ Come and see what God has done: He is awesome in His deeds among mortals!” (Psalm 66:3-5) Lord God Almighty, You are so awesome! I just love being Your son, being Your servant, being Your friend. I love You and how You love people. You love to save them, and raise them up, and set feet on solid ground. You love to heal them and free them. You love to embrace them and let them know how much You love them. And You love to let us be apart of what You’re doing and how You do it through our hearts and our hands given over to You. I praise You, Jesus, for another year of ministry. We’ll be celebrating thirteen years of “preparing the way of the Lord … ministering the healing love of God” just like You called me to do in the power of Your grace to the glory of Your name that many years ago. You told me this ministry, to be named “Messiah Ministries”, would be founded upon Isaiah 61, to keep teaching what You taught, to keep doing what You did, in the power that You had by Your Holy Spirit living in us: “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; He has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to provide for those who mourn in Zion— to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display His glory” (Isaiah 61:1-3). You declared these words from this Scripture as You began Your ministry as Son of Man on the earth (Luke 4:14-21). And at the end of Your earthly ministry, You called Your disciples to receive Your Spirit and continue Your ministry: “As the Father sent Me, so I send you” (John 20:21). Thank You, Lord, for the awesome deeds and wonders of Your great power I have seen, as one of Your disciples, through these years. I’ve seen You healing the broken and setting the captives free. I’ve seen You gather in the lost and embrace the lonely. I’ve seen You speak Your words of life and hope into the discouraged and doubting. I’ve seen You pour out Your Holy Spirit in the power of Your love so many times in so many ways that I could never doubt Your goodness or Your mercy that flow so freely from the Father heart of God. Sometimes healing and freedom have come dramatically, instantaneously in the miracles of a moment. Most of the time, I’ve seen it come little by little, layer by layer, and step by step in a journey of wholeness and holiness of heart and life. But always I’ve seen the heart of the Father, sending His Holy Spirit, preparing a Bride for His Son—a people being prepared for the coming of the King—healed and free, emptied of themselves and filled with Your Spirit, being set free of everything that holds them back from being all You created them to be. You’ve used this ministry to help Your people—sometimes in a gathering of community, but often one at a time—come to know their identity and fulfill their destiny in Christ. Lord Jesus, I thank You that You’re still working Your wonders in me. And in the mercy and power of Your grace that I could never earn or deserve, You’re still choosing to do that through me and this ministry by Your Spirit and in Your name. Everyday, let us celebrate Your goodness and glory. Every day, let us “come and see” what God has done! In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please keep us in prayer and come join us if you can This Friday Night for our Celebration Evening March 19th in Lexington and bring some friends to learn more about all the Lord is doing through Messiah Ministries. Come and See! Come and Celebrate! Come and Be a Part of What God is Doing! This year will have many exciting gifts contributed to our Silent Auction to raise funds for our ministries. I will be sharing stories of God's glory from my ministry trips to Pakistan, Israel, Estonia, the Philippines, around the world and here at home. We want to share our vision and calling of Messiah Ministries with all who want to learn more and may want to join with us. For more information & to RSVP please click here: Information/RSVPCelebrationDessert Please Spread the Word, Invite some Friends, and Forward this on to everyone who may want to join us! God bless you and see you there! This is one of the ways we raise support for Messiah Ministries each year. You may not be able to come to Lexington tonight to join our Celebration, but I welcome you to give generously to vision and calling of our ministry as the Lord would lead you. I'll be happy to be in touch with you about our ministry and our sense of calling and vision: MessiahMin@aol.com Please join us! www.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

Morning by Morning, Thursday 3-18-10 – Get Up and Look Forward Good morning, Lord Jesus. I lift my eyes to seek Your face and open my ears to hear Your voice. … “But get up and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you to serve and testify to the things in which you have seen Me and to those in which I will appear to you” (Acts 26:16). When we stumble or fall, You call us to get up and to look forward. To see You as You are, to see ourselves as we are, but also to look forward to who we will become and where You will send us. You move us to ask You, “What’s up ahead?” It seems You’ve created us with a deep sense of excitement and anticipation of things to come. Much of Your Word is written prophetically in the present of things to come in the future—speaking to us as we are, but also speaking to us of who we are to be. Even the nature of Your covenants are promises made, but not yet fulfilled. Such is the nature of faith—not limiting our vision to what we see, but trusting in the hope of what will be seen. In the paradoxes of Your Kingdom, You call us to be content, but never complacent; thankful for what we have, but always hungry for more; grateful for all You have done, and excited to see what more You will do. “What’s up ahead?” is the stirring of our spirit for adventure. It’s the yearning to become more than we are, to look beyond ourselves and where we’ve been with eager longing to be an active part of Your unfolding plans to come. It’s growing in knowing our identity and also our destiny. It’s believing You’ve created us with gifting, calling, and purpose; that You’ve created us for significance; that You’ve created us for greatness. We are sons and daughters of the living God. So our lives have meaning. Our sufferings have purpose. And even our failures are preparation and training for assignments and alignments that yet lie ahead in the journey of our lives. There are some things up ahead it’s best not to know. It would only bring fear or dread. There are other things clearly revealed in Your Word that will come to pass whether we fear them or dread them or not. But there are other things up ahead that are beyond our comprehension, too wonderful to imagine, that we can believe it until we see it. Those are the things to come that stir our spirits now, encouraging us to get up and look up and keep pressing on. “But as it is written, ‘What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love Him’ ” (1 Corinthians 2:9). In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please keep us in prayer and come join us if you can This Friday Night for our Celebration Evening March 19th in Lexington and bring some friends to learn more about all the Lord is doing through Messiah Ministries. Come and See! Come and Celebrate! Come and Be a Part of What God is Doing! This year will have many exciting gifts contributed to our Silent Auction to raise funds for our ministries. I will be sharing stories of God's glory from my ministry trips to Pakistan, Israel, Estonia, the Philippines, around the world and here at home. We want to share our vision and calling of Messiah Ministries with all who want to learn more and may want to join with us. For more information & to RSVP please click here: Information/RSVPCelebrationDessert Please Spread the Word, Invite some Friends, and Forward this on to everyone who may want to join us! God bless you and see you there! 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

Breaking the Silence: Restoring the Voice of Women in the Church -- April 10 in Lexington

"Breaking the Silence: Restoring the Voice of Women in the Church" is an invitation to those with a heart to fulfill our destiny as the Body of Christ to gather. On Saturday, April 10, 2010, Tommy Hays of Messiah Ministries and Laura Beach of Equipping Lydia will lead a day to seek the voice of the Lord together in fasting and prayer, worship and praise, healing and repentance. In this hour, men and women must be rightly aligned and empowered for spiritual leadership together. This ecumenical day of prayer and fasting will occur from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. in the Foundry at Centenary. Men and women with a heart for healing in the church are encouraged to attend. No Registration is required. An offering will be received. Children are welcome but separate childcare will not be available. This will be a day of fasting. Water will be provided. If needed, feel free to bring bag lunch/snacks. For more information, contact Marilyn Walker, our Director of Ministries, by telephone (859-317-1591) or by clicking on the Email icon here: Please come join us and spread the word! -- Tommy Hays; Messiah Ministries, 2800 Tates Creek Rd., Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org MessiahMIn@aol.com

“I Shall Not be Shaken” 3-16-10

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Mighty God, merciful Savior, Emmanuel. … “For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from Him. He alone is my Rock and my Salvation, my Fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my deliverance and my honor; my mighty rock, my refuge is in God. Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us” (Psalm 62:5-8). You give me room to “pour out my heart” before You. You give me liberty to speak whatever is on my mind, stealing my peace, burdening my heart. I don’t have to hide it inside, push it away, or pretend it’s not there. All my worries, anxieties, and fears; all my struggles and troubles and doubts; all my mistakes, misfortunes, and missteps—You see them all; You know them all; You’re with me in them all. You want to be my rock of refuge, my steadfast supporter, my best friend. And part of truly trusting You is being completely open and honest with You. Part of truly trusting You is keeping it real with You. That’s the difference between a relationship and a ritual, between a journey of faith and practicing a religion. But once I’ve poured out my heart like a pitcher of water, You want me to lift it up to the Lord. You want me to wait in the silence before You. In the silence, I surrender it all to You. In the silence, I take my eyes off myself and lift my face up to You. There You readjust my perspective, realign my thoughts, and renew my hope. You remind me of Your sovereignty. You steady my heart and calm my fears. You strengthen my courage and restore my resolve. Then You fill up my empty pitcher with Your living waters, speaking to me the truth of Your Word and pouring into me the power of Your Spirit. Then I arise and go about my day, knowing You have already gone before me, ordering my steps and straightening my path. And by the mercy of Your grace and the power of Your love, “I shall not be shaken” by the powers of this world; I shall go forth with an unshakable faith, entrusting my journey to my unshakable God. Though the mountains may tremble and the seas may roar, through the earth itself may rock and reel, I shall not be moved in the rest and refuge of my God in whom I trust. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please come join us as we worship and celebrate our great God and His mighty power through another year of ministry This Friday Night! We'll share stories of God's glory, His miracles in Pakistan and the power of His healing love at home, His name proclaimed in Israel and the nations and His heart to see our names written in the palm of His hand. Please Come Join us This Friday Night! Celebrate -- Passion, Power & Purpose with Tommy Hays & Messiah Ministries Come & See! Come & Celebrate Come & Be a Part of What God is Doing! 2010 Celebration Evening: Dessert & Coffee Reception Stories of God's Glory, Signs, & Wonders from Tommy's Adventures in Pakastan, Israel & Around the World Silent Auction Invitation to give & join our vision and calling Child Care available -- Contact Marilyn for details & reservations. Hosted this year at Centenary, in the Foundry Friday Evening, March 19th, 7:00pm Phone Marilyn for reservations (859-317-1591), or click here for on-line reservation form Please come and bring friends to hear all the Lord is doing in these exciting days! I would love to speak with you about the vision and calling of Messiah Ministries -- Tommy Hays tommyhays@aol.com

Power made Perfect in Weakness 3-15-10

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Draw me close to You. Let me begin this new day centered in the Son, embraced by the Father, and filled with the Holy Spirit. … “But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for (My) power is made perfect in (your) weakness.’ So, I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me… for whenever I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). Lord, why is Your power made perfect in my weakness? It seems I hear You say: “My son, the weakness I desire is not a physical weakness, but a spiritual desperation. It is coming to the place in your heart where you are desperately dependent upon Me. As you come to the end of your own strength, you come to the beginning of My power. I resist the proud, but I lavish My grace upon the humble. Those who will not admit they are sick, admit no need of a physician. Those who will not admit their sin, admit no need of forgiveness. Those who will not admit their weakness, admit no need of My power. But all need My healing, My forgiveness, and My power. Only those who admit their need for the power of My grace receive it. When you are weak in this way, then you are strong in My power. Then My power is made perfect in your weakness.” Yes, Lord. I am weak. I need Your healing, Your forgiveness, Your power. Like the apostle Paul, I want to “boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses” because I need Your power, because I want to see Your power manifested in my life and through my life into the lives of others, on earth as it is in heaven. I want to trust in Your promise that, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven…. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:3-5). As a son of God, filled with the Spirit of God, You’ve created me and called me to inherit the earth, to be an ambassador of Your kingdom here on earth—not in my pride, but in the power of Your grace (2 Corinthians 5:20). “To Him who loves us and freed us from our sins by His blood, and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever” (Revelation 1:5-6). “Little ones to Him belong; they are weak, but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me… For the Bible tells me so.” In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please come see how God's power is being made perfect through our weakness at Messiah Ministries This Friday Night 3/19 for our Celebration Evening, hosted at 7 pm in The Foundry at my home church, Centenary UMC (www.LexChurch.com). I would really welcome your encouragement and support, standing firmly with us at this exciting and critical time in the life of our ministry. Celebrate -- Passion, Power & Purpose Come & See! Come & Celebrate Come & Be a Part of What God is Doing! 2010 Celebration Evening: Dessert & Coffee Reception Stories of God's Glory, Signs, & Wonders from Tommy's Adventures in Pakastan, Israel & Around the World Silent Auction Invitation to give & join our vision and calling Child Care available -- Contact Marilyn for details & reservations. Hosted this year at Centenary, in the Foundry Friday Evening, March 19th, 7:00pm Phone Marilyn for reservations (859-317-1591), or click here for on-line reservation form 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

I will Rise 3-12-10

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are my Rock and my Redeemer. In You I put my hope and faith to cause all things to work together for good. … “Then David rose from the ground, washed, anointed himself, and changed his clothes. He went into the house of the Lord, and worshipped; he then went to his own house; and when he asked, they set food before him and he ate. Then his servants said to him, ‘What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while it was alive; but when the child died you, you rose and ate food.’ He said, ‘While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who knows? The Lord may be gracious to me, and the child may live.’ But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me’ ” (2 Samuel 12:20-23). Even when we fast and pray and cry out to God for the answers to our prayer to come, the honest truth of my experience of life so far is that we don’t always see the answer come in the way we want on this side of heaven. The truth is that sometimes we are disappointed. There’s something in the mystery of the sovereignty of God, which sovereignly allows human beings to make human choices that affect ourselves, our relationships, the community around us, and even the generations to come, which is hard to fully grasp. And sometimes it’s hard to fully accept. Our part is not to try to control the results or the people around us. Our part is to pray, to believe God’s Word is a revelation of God’s best for our lives, and make our choices accordingly. When we do, we will see breakthroughs and turnarounds in ways we can hardly imagine—sometimes even exceedingly, abundantly far more than we could ever ask or imagine. But at the same time, sometimes the honest truth is that is that it’s not the circumstances but our hearts that break. And sometimes it’s not the battle that turns around, but our heart that must keep turning to God, entrusting to Him even our disappointments of unanswered prayers. We are not promised that in this broken, fallen world where our lives are affected by our own choices as well as the choices of others, both directly and indirectly through the culture around us and generations before us, that there will be no disappointments. We are not promised that there will be no struggles, difficulties, pain, or injustice. But we are promised that when we go through the fires, the rivers, and the floods of this broken, fallen world, we go through it with God (Isaiah 43:2). When we go through the valleys of the shadow of death, God is with us (Psalm 23:4). He never leaves us and never forsakes us (Hebrews 13:5). If we hold on to Him and let Him hold on to us, He causes all things to work together for good—in His time, in His way, for His glory (Romans 8:28). I’m remembering the words of C. S. Lewis that prayer doesn’t change God, prayer changes me. Whether the answer comes as I hope and pray or not, prayer is a means of God’s grace to change my heart to be more like His, to bring my thoughts and desires into agreement with His. And we really have no idea how much our journey through the heartbreaks and disappointments, even the face of unanswered prayer, can inspire others to keep trusting God and His goodness, that keep working out His sovereign plan even in the midst of our human choices. We keep reminding one another of what God’s Word reminds us—that “this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us and eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18). So we fast and pray and stand firm in the Word of God. We praise Him and proclaim Him. We entrust our lives to Him. We embrace Him through the darkest valleys and rejoice with Him on the highest mountains. And when we feel like we’ve lost a battle, when we feel we’ve mourned and grieved our disappointment and loss, there comes a new day that begins a new season. And when that day comes, we rise and dry our tears and wash our face. We change our clothes from the garments of mourning to the garments of praise. And we bow before our God—who is always faithful and true, mighty to save and merciful to redeem—and worship Him. With my hope and faith in my God, out of every season of disappointment and suffering, I will rise. I will let the Lord my God anoint my head with His oil even in the very presence of my enemies, my spiritual enemies who come to steal and kill and destroy all that my God has entrusted to me (Psalm 23:5). “But as for me, I will look to the Lord, I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me. Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me” (Micah 7:7-8). In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, thank you for walking with me through the journey of life in prayer--through both the valleys and the mountains, morning by morning, one day at a time, with the Lord our God who is always good and whose tender mercies endure forever. God bless you, my friend and fellow traveler! Please come join us for our Celebration Evening March 19th in Lexington and bring some friends to learn more about all the Lord is doing through Messiah Ministries. Please spread the word to everyone you think might be interested in our ministry of "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God". For more information & to RSVP please click here: Information/RSVPCelebrationDessert You may not be able to come to Lexington, but we would still welcome your generous support and encouragement of our ministry as the Lord would lead, especially at this time. We welcome contributions to "Messiah Ministries" at our mailing address or through our web site, below. God bless you and thank you! I do hope this ministry is a blessing and encouragement to you. 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

“With a True Heart” 3-11-10

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are faithful, even when we are faithless. Your love is forever, even when ours may fail. … “Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that He opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with a pure water. Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who has promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:19-23). You are a God we can approach “with a true heart.” We don’t have to lie; we don’t have to hide; we don’t have to try to cover up all our fears and failures, our sins and disappointments, our embarrassment or shame. We don’t have to act like we’re somebody we’re not, pretend we can do something we can’t, or kid ourselves into thinking we are more perfect or pure or holy than we are. You see it all. You know it all—not only our actions, but also our intentions; not only our failures, but also how hard we tried. And yet You love us still. You welcome us still into the very holy of holies of Your Presence if we will humble ourselves to confess our sins, admit our failures, and recognize our need of the One who washes us clean by the blood of the Lamb. There is no sin You will not forgive, no failure You will not redeem, if we entrust ourselves to You. “And the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:7-9). To know Your mercy, Your steadfast, unfailing love—even in the face of all our fears and failures—is the peace that brings us through every storm and the hope that calms us through every challenge to our faith. This is the “full assurance of faith”—that You keep loving us no matter what; You keep reaching out to us no matter what; You stand by us no matter what. For You, and You alone, are the personification of Perfect Love: “Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8). Your mercy endures forever; Your love never ends. “Because of Your unfailing love, I can enter Your house; with deepest awe I will worship at Your temple” (Psalm 5:7, NLT). It’s only through the blood of the Lamb that we can enter in. But because of the blood of the Lamb, freely available to all who will come “with a true heart,” in humility and faith, it would be foolish and sinful to fail to enter in to this holy place of Your forgiveness, mercy, and love. We can hold fast to You because You never quit holding fast to us. You never let go. Love never can because Love never ends. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I sent out the Personal Note I've included below yesterday so that truth may be known and all hearts may be clear in the light of the love of God. I'm so grateful to God for the overwhelming love, grace, and support expressed for us through this time. God bless you and thank you for joining with me in the journey of prayer through life that's not always as we hoped it would be. 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 A Personal Note from Tommy Hays & Tricia Hays Dear Friends, Many have been praying and asking about the painful time of transition in my personal life and marriage. Rather than continuing to simply speak with people personally as the topic comes up, I feel it would be appropriate to also send out this general update. I’m including a note below that Tricia wrote expressing her viewpoint as well. Though she tends to be as deeply private as I am openly public, she wanted people to accurately hear her own words instead of making assumptions. We’ve been married for twelve years and have two sons. Though our greatly varied personalities and perspectives have made most of our marriage difficult and challenging, we have put much effort and prayer into it, with both of us receiving various ministry, prayer, and counseling at times. In May, 2009 Tricia chose to begin the process of separation and moved out of our house, with us both sharing responsibility for our boys. She later filed papers for a divorce, which was finalized in December, 2009. Tricia and I disagree about whether divorce is the right answer to our problems. This is not my desire or choice, but it is the choice that has been made. We continue to respect and love one another, seeking to provide a healthy atmosphere for our boys, even though our marriage has ended and we are moving forward into the next season of our lives with God’s help and grace. -- Tommy Hays From Tricia Hays: The decision to end my marriage to Tommy Hays was a painful and difficult choice to make. I made the decision based on personal reasons that pertain to our own personal relationship to one another. There were no immoral indiscretions by either one of us. Neither did my decision have anything to do with any overemphasis on ministry or Tommy’s traveling schedule. While we were married, I fully supported him in his travels in ministry and continue to support and encourage him in the ministry I believe God called him to devote his life to. We are committed to having a positive relationship with one another and as we raise our sons together. -- Tricia Hays We thank you for your concern and prayers for us and our children. Many will be deeply disappointed by this news and it is painful to have to share it with you. But we wanted you to know. -- Tommy Hays and Tricia Hays March 10, 2010

A Personal Note from Tommy Hays & Tricia Hays

Dear Friends, Many have been praying and asking about the painful time of transition in my personal life and marriage. Rather than continuing to simply speak with people personally as the topic comes up, I feel it would be appropriate to also send out this general update. I’m including a note below that Tricia wrote expressing her viewpoint as well. Though she tends to be as deeply private as I am openly public, she wanted people to accurately hear her own words instead of making assumptions. We’ve been married for twelve years and have two sons. Though our greatly varied personalities and perspectives have made most of our marriage difficult and challenging, we have put much effort and prayer into it, with both of us receiving various ministry, prayer, and counseling at times. In May, 2009 Tricia chose to begin the process of separation and moved out of our house, with us both sharing responsibility for our boys. She later filed papers for a divorce, which was finalized in December, 2009. Tricia and I disagree about whether divorce is the right answer to our problems. This is not my desire or choice, but it is the choice that has been made. We continue to respect and love one another, seeking to provide a healthy atmosphere for our boys, even though our marriage has ended and we are moving forward into the next season of our lives with God’s help and grace. -- Tommy Hays From Tricia Hays: The decision to end my marriage to Tommy Hays was a painful and difficult choice to make. I made the decision based on personal reasons that pertain to our own personal relationship to one another. There were no immoral indiscretions by either one of us. Neither did my decision have anything to do with any overemphasis on ministry or Tommy’s traveling schedule. While we were married, I fully supported him in his travels in ministry and continue to support and encourage him in the ministry I believe God called him to devote his life to. We are committed to having a positive relationship with one another and as we raise our sons together. -- Tricia Hays We thank you for your concern and prayers for us and our children. Many will be deeply disappointed by this news and it is painful to have to share it with you. But we wanted you to know. -- Tommy Hays and Tricia Hays March 10, 2010

Fully Alive 3-10-10

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Your name is the first name I speak today, as I offer You the first fruits of my first thoughts of this new day. … “For as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:22). I would rather have tried and failed than have never tried at all. I would rather try to climb and fall than never try to climb at all. I would rather live and die than never have lived at all. I choose to be fully alive to all the fullness of life. Though that means there will be times of great heartache and pain that I can hardly bear, that means there will be times of great exhilaration and joy that I can hardly contain. By Your grace, I will not dumb down life, shut down my emotions, or settle down for something less than who You created me to be. You came that I would have life, and have it abundantly (John 10:10). You did not come that I would coast along, just getting by, just biding my time until the rapture one day, trying to avoid as much risk as I can, and have as “normal” of a life as I can. I believe You created me, that You created each of us, for much, much more than that. So keep giving me the passion to risk hurting, to risk failing, to risk falling short of the dreams that burn in my soul. I know there will be disappointments. I know many times I will disappoint myself. But by the mercy and power of Your grace, I will not disappoint You by not giving my best to the life You have set before me. By the Spirit of God, fully alive within me, I am “alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:11). In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please come join us for our Celebration Evening March 19th in Lexington and bring some friends to learn more about all the Lord is doing through Messiah Ministries. Please spread the word. I've included our invitation below and attached it to share with friends. Come and See! Come and Celebrate! Come and Be a Part of What God is Doing! This year will have many exciting gifts contributed to our Silent Auction to raise funds for our ministries. I will be sharing stories of God's glory from my ministry trips to Pakistan, Israel, Estonia, the Philippines, around the world and here at home. We want to share our vision and calling of Messiah Ministries with all who want to learn more and may want to join with us. For more information & to RSVP please click here: Information/RSVPCelebrationDessert Please Spread the Word, Invite some Friends, and Forward this on to Everyone who may want to join us! God bless you and see you there! 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

“Give Heed to My Reproof” 3-9-10

Good morning, Lord Jesus. My eyes look to You, to see what You’re doing. My ears listen for You, to hear what You’re saying. My heart waits for You, to follow where You’re leading. … “Give heed to My reproof; I will pour out My thoughts to you; I will make My words known to you” (Proverbs 1:23). Let me learn from my losses And grow as I give Let me be humbled by my heartaches And be strengthened through my struggles Let me be counseled by Your correction And renewed by Your reproof Let me be healed by the touch of Your hand And broken at the breath of Your Spirit Let me be freed in the power of Your forgiveness And become fearless in the faith of Your Word Let me be encouraged by Your heart of compassion And be filled with the fullness of Your love Let me embrace Your mercies without measure And welcome the comfort of Your embrace Let me know You even as I am known And become more like You as I give more of me to You each day … Yes, Lord. Let these words that You have written on my heart this morning be the meditation of my heart and the transformation of my mind throughout my day. Make me sensitive to Your reproof and help me receive Your correction. I want to learn from my mistakes, be transformed in Your Presence, and be changed into Your image (2 Corinthians 3:18). Keep putting these desires in my heart; keep empowering me to live them out a little more every day. Thank You for loving me enough to never leave me as I am (Romans 8:29). Thank You for caring for me enough to have compassion for me just as I am (Matthew 9:36). All by Your grace, I will give heed to Your words of reproof to me because I trust Your heart of love toward me. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays My friend in the journey of prayer, thank you for joining with me in my quest and yours to be centered in Christ, embraced by the Father, and filled with the Holy Spirit. With you, I praise God for being so faithful through our failures and so compassionate with our complicated lives. As we have come to know, He is merciful to redeem it all if we will keep trusting Him enough to entrust it all to His hands--hands forever scarred by the sacrifice of His never-ending love for us. Thank you for the ways you've been part of the Lord's expression of mercy and grace to me by continuing to journey with me in prayer. God bless you! All by the grace of God, we can always Celebrate His goodness and give thanksgiving and praise for His ever-abiding presence and never-ending love. Friends, please come join us for our yearly Celebration Evening March 19th in Lexington and bring some friends to learn more about all the Lord is doing through Messiah Ministries. Please spread the word. I've included our invitation below and attached it to share with friends. Come and See! Come and Celebrate! Come and Be a Part of What God is Doing! This year will have many exciting gifts contributed to our Silent Auction to raise funds for our ministries. I will be sharing stories of God's glory from my ministry trips to Pakistan, Israel, Estonia, the Philippines, around the world and here at home. We want to share our vision and calling of Messiah Ministries with all who want to learn more and may want to join with us. For more information & to RSVP please click here: Information/RSVPCelebrationDessert Please Spread the Word, Invite some Friends, and Forward this on to Everyone who may want to join us! God bless you and see you there! 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

Humility and Faith 3-8-10

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I want to begin this day and every day centered in Christ, embraced by the Father, and filled with the Holy Spirit. … “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You” (2 Chronicles 20:12). Humility admits it when we don’t know what to do—when we are worried or afraid, when we are weak or ashamed, when we are confused or disappointed. But faith lifts our eyes to You—to the One who is greater than any of our circumstances, to the One who already sees the end the from the beginning and the beginning from the end, to the One who knows every choice that will be made by everyone involved, to the One who promises to redeem everything in our lives that we will entrust into Your hands so that You can cause all things to work together for good for those who love You and who are called according to Your purpose. Humility and faith are mighty weapons of spiritual warfare; they are powerful keys of the Kingdom of God. Lord, help me to grow in both humility and faith. Like the people of Judah who felt overwhelmed by an enemy who sought to destroy them and their destiny, help me admit it to You when I feel powerless or afraid in the face of the spiritual enemy of my soul, who comes to steal and kill and destroy (v. 20:3). Then let Your Spirit fall upon me to speak Your Word to me, as I turn to You, call on Your name, and seek Your face, in faith believing You hear me when I call (v. 20:13-14). And as You always do, You will remind me and encourage me to “stand still, and see the victory of the Lord on (my) behalf” (v. 20:17). “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You” (Psalm 56:3, NKJV). Whenever I humble myself in the sight of the Lord, You will lift me up (James 4:10). In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please come join for our yearly Celebration Evening March 19th in Lexington and bring some friends to learn more about all the Lord is doing through Messiah Ministries. Please spread the word. I've included our invitation below and attached it to share with friends. Come join the Celebration March 19th! Exciting Gifts are being contributed for our Silent Auction! For more information & to RSVP please click here: Information/RSVPCelebrationDessert Please Spread the Word, Invite some Friends, and Forward this on to Everyone who may want to join us! God bless you and see you there! Tommy Hays www.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

Dancing with Jesus 3-5-10

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I lift up Your name and lift up my heart in the communion of prayer. … “If our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire and out of your hand, O king, let Him deliver us. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods and we will not worship the golden statue that you have set up” (Daniel 3:17-18). My friend Ann’s wheelchair is finally empty today. Her hard-fought, long-fought battle with the symptoms of multiple sclerosis is finally won. Her dream of rising up to dance with Jesus is finally fulfilled. The victory of her healing came in the resurrection that she’s living now and forever in the glory of Your Presence. Until the moment of her last breath on this side of heaven, she kept trusting You, entrusting herself to You, seeking her healing but seeking You even more. And in amazing, spiritual stories of Your tender mercies and abiding Presence that I’ll leave for her husband and family to tell in their way and in their time, You made Yourself so real in the final, sacred days of her time on earth, so embraced in love. Ann knew her healing might not come on this side of heaven. She knew the Kingdom of God has invaded earth through the Presence and Spirit of Christ, but that the fullness of that Kingdom will not yet be fully manifested until Christ returns again. She knew her part was to believe, to pray, to agree with God’s Word, revealing God’s will. She would not bow down to the sickness, infirmity, and disease that sought to take her faith and her life. She would not bow down to death. She kept looking to You, worshipping You, bowing to You alone, walking with her family and friends in the grace and the faith You gave her every day. Death had no victory; death had no sting. “When this perishable body puts on imperishability, and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will be finally fulfilled: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:54-57). The Author and Finisher of Life and Faith delivered her out of the grip of death and into the arms of our Father, who’s embracing her now and forever in the fullness of His love. There are no wheelchairs in heaven. And in heaven there is no death, but only life—life lived more abundantly than we could ever ask or imagine. So in the faith that Ann and Mike lived out before us all, never bowing to anything less than the fullness of the Word of God, she no longer has to walk by faith, for her faith has now become sight. We celebrate for her in heaven, even as we mourn the loss of her here on earth. And we take great delight in knowing Ann is now finally healed, whole, and fully free. In the glory of heaven, she’s dancing with Jesus. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please join me in covering the family of Ann & Mike Troutman in your prayers through this time of both celebration and mourning, tears and joy. God bless you. 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

The Clash of Swords 3-4-10

Good morning, Lord Jesus. “On Christ the Solid Rock I stand.” … I hear the clash of swords The thundering of horses and angels at war I hear the blast of the trumpet sound As the armies of kingdoms advance on the ground I hear a loud shout and the cry of command For the King has come and His Kingdom’s at hand Steady my spirit and strengthen my faith Remind me of my calling to prepare the way Your warriors are ready, healed and free Now it’s time to arise and follow Your lead I hear a loud shout and the cry of command For the King has come and His Kingdom’s at hand The battle’s begun and kingdoms are at war Nation against nation, ripped and torn But the battle was won before the first shot rang out Victory is ours and we give out a shout I hear a loud shout and the cry of command For the King has come and His Kingdom’s at hand Yes, Lord. Thank You for these words You’re writing on my heart and stirring in my spirit as I join in this spiritual battle through the watches of the night. Help me understand and grasp the truth of these paradoxes of faith: The Kingdom has come with the first coming of Christ, yet the Kingdom is not yet fully manifested until Your second coming. The Victory of the Cross is won, yet the battle is real as we enforce the Victory of the Cross every day in every decision and encounter of our lives. The enemy of our souls is defeated, yet every day we must allow You to crush him under out feet and conquer him in our minds, taking every thought captive to the obedience of the truth in Christ (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). Lord Jesus, You are the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). And You freely give us Your peace (John 14:27). But at the same time, You also said, “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace but a sword” (Matthew 10:34). Your peace is not a peace of complacency, passivity, or compromise with evil. Your peace is the peace that comes with the Victory of Your Cross, the Victory of the Kingdom of Light over the kingdom of darkness (1 Peter 2:9). And as Your Word promises: “The God of peace will shortly crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you” (Romans 16:20). In the Spirit, I hear the clash of swords. I hear the cry of Your command. I hear Your call to engage the battle for the battle has begun. “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places: all this is but the beginning of the birth pangs” (Matthew 24:6-8). These are the birth pangs of the beginning of a great battle. And as in any battle, there will be casualties of war and pain that’s hard to bear, but it is a battle that must be fought and it is a battle that’s already won. “Blessed be the Lord, my Rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle; my Rock and my Fortress, my Stronghold and my Deliverer, my Shield in whom I take refuge, who subdues (the enemies of my soul, the spiritual forces of wickedness who comes to steal and kill and destroy) under me” (Psalm 144:1-2). In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays My friends, as I send out this word and prayer this morning, I'm reminded of the words of Winston Churchill in the face of great casualties and pain in the midst of a war being waged both on the ground and in the spirit: "You ask, What is our policy? I will say, “It is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us: to wage war against a monstrous tyranny, never surpassed in the dark lamentable catalogue of human crime. That is our policy.” You ask, What is our aim? I can answer with one word: Victory—victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory there is no survival. ... We shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and the oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender." By the power of the grace of God, Lord let it be so. Let our generation be found faithful in the war we must wage and the battle we must fight as we follow You in the Victory of the Cross. The battle belongs to the Lord (1 Samuel 17:47). God bless you in victory today! 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

"Know Him Who is True" 3-3-10

Good morning, Lord Jesus. With an unveiled face, with unhindered eyes, I lift up my eyes, open up my heart, and behold Your glory. … “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life” (1 John 5:20). Jesus, You are the Vine and I am an extension of Your branches. You are One with the Father and I am one of the sons of God. You are the Head of Your Church and I am part of the Body of Christ. You are the soon and coming King of Glory and I am one of the willing servants of the Kingdom of God. You are the Commander of the Host of Heaven and I am one of Your spiritual warriors. You are the Bridegroom and I am one with Your Bride. You are the Lion of the Tribe of Judah and I am among those who tremble with delight and shake with awe in the fear of the Lord when You utter Your voice. You are the Lamb of God and I am one from whom You have taken away my sins and the sins of the world. You are the Good Shepherd and I am among the flock of those entrusted to Your care. You are my Savior and I am one of the names written in the palm of Your nail-scarred hand and sealed forever in the Lamb’s Book of Life. You are the King of kings and the Lord of lords and I am among those waiving the palm branches of my spirit in worship to welcome You as King and Lord into my heart and into the earth to rule and reign forever. Help me understand You. Help me know You. Help me seek You, turn to You, and entrust myself to You more and more each day. Let me never be satisfied with what I have learned, but always yearning to know You more. Let me come to know You in every facet and dimension of Your Being—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. “Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord; His appearing is as sure as the dawn; He will come to us like the showers, like the spring rains the water the earth” (Hosea 6:3). So by the power of the grace of God, by yearning desire You’ve placed in my heart, I will press on to know You, to "know Him who is true." And one day, in the glory of Your appearing—as sure as the dawn—“I will know (You) fully, even as I have been fully known” (1 Corinthians 13:12). In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I would appreciate your prayers this morning. It's early here. Sometimes I'm awakened in the night, bombarded with thoughts questioning who I am and any significance to my life. I know that's when it's time to just get up and pray and turn my eyes upon Jesus (Ephesians 1:17-19). He reminds me who I am as He reminds me who He is and who I am in Him. Then it becomes clear what is at the source of the bombardment of these doubting thoughts and Who is the Source of my security and peace. In case that ever happens to you, I'm praying for you right now in the name of Jesus to remember Who He is and who you are in Him. In all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us and nothing will ever separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 8:37-39). Thank you for praying the same for me. Thank you for joining with me in the journey of prayer. God bless you! -- Your friend and prayer partner, 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

Worry or Peace: We Get to Choose 3-2-10

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I choose You—I choose to trust You, to obey You, to walk with You. I choose to love You and let You love me. … “So do not worry about tomorrow…” (Matthew 6:34). “Don’t worry about tomorrow”—that’s sounds like the name of a nice little song. But it’s a powerful principle of the Word of God. It’s a choice, really. And it’s a choice we make in obedience to Your command: “Don’t worry.” Those are red letter words of Jesus, straight out of the Sermon on the Mount and sent straight for the jugular of all the worries, anxieties, and fears that try to mount up and weigh us down and steal our peace. But as someone has said, “Worry and peace cannot occupy the same space. You get to choose.” So by the power of the grace of God, I choose peace. And I reject worry in the name of Jesus. Worry must go. And peace is welcome to come in its place. You are my Peace, Lord Jesus (Isaiah 9:6; John 14:27). So I choose to “be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving. (I will) let (my) requests be known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard (my) heart and mind through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7, NKJV). That’s the way I choose to live, one choice at a time, one victory at a time of peace over worry. And that choice, made faithfully and persistently, will make all the difference. By the grace of God, I get to choose. And so I do. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays My friend, may the Lord our God, who is our Prince of Peace, fill you with the abiding peace of His Presence in your heart and mind every day. Be free from the tyranny of worry, doubt, and fear in the name of Jesus. May God's perfect love cast out all fear and fill you with His faith to trust Him and rest in His abundant provision for your every need. Let your choices always be made out of faith, never out of fear. And please pray the same for me. God bless you! For yourself or for a friend, please consider ordering my books, Free to Be Like Jesus --Transforming Power of Healing & Deliverance or Morning by Morning, A Prayer Journey with Tommy Hays or other our other resources from our resources web-site: 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

Purim Joy 3-1-10

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Align my heart with Your heart, my mind with Your mind. Help me begin this day well because I begin this day seeking You and Your will. … “Haman son of Hammedatha the Agite, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur—that is “the lot”—to crush and destroy them; but when Esther came before the king, he gave orders in writing that the wicked plot that he had devised against the Jews should come upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows. Therefore these days are called Purim, from the word Pur” (Esther 9:24-26). Throughout the generations since the days of Esther, Mordecai, and Haman, the Jewish people celebrate the days of Purim in this season to remember how You turned all the evil and destruction intended by Haman against the Jews back on his own head. You reversed the curse and released a blessing. You took what was intended for evil and used it for good. And the days intended for their humiliation and destruction became “days of feasting and gladness” for You turned their “sorrow into gladness and (their) mourning into a holiday” (v. 9:22). You redeem all things we will entrust into Your hands; You answer our prayers of distress when we call on Your name in our time of need. You are a covenant-keeping God—mighty to save and merciful to deliver. You are never blind to the schemes of the enemy of our souls or the wicked choices formed in the minds of men led astray by their own arrogance, prejudice, and pride. One day, the spirit of Haman will stir again in the hearts of wicked men to destroy the Jewish people in a final attempt to break the covenant of God. But just as the days of Esther foreshadow and the days of Purim celebrate, You will turn that day intended for humiliation and destruction into a day of great victory and rejoicing, reversing the curse and releasing a blessing (Zechariah 14:1-21). On that day, they will look up and see You coming again as Messiah and Savior. And You will “pour out a Spirit of compassion and supplication on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that when they look on the One whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for (You) as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over (You) as one weeps over a firstborn” (Zechariah 12:10). In their grief, they will look up and see their redemption drawing near, their Redeemer coming in great glory and power, declaring to You at last, “Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord” (Matthew 23:39). “And on that day, (You) will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem” (Zechariah 12:9). Even today, the spirit of Haman stirs in the hearts of the nations of the earth. It brings hatred and prejudice against the Jewish people to attempt to break Your covenant. And this will only increase as the Day of the Lord approaches. Yet even as evil and darkness increase on the face of the earth, so will Your light and Your glory upon Your people even in the midst of that darkness (Isaiah 60:1-7). And no matter what may come as that day approaches, You will give us grace to keep trusting in You, believing Your Word, and praying for Your people, as we see You honor Your covenant. On the coming Day of the Lord, You will turn all that was intended for evil into good; You will break every wicked curse; and You will release Your great blessing of Your glorious Presence (Revelation 19:11-16). As in the days of Purim, we celebrate with great joy and gladness. “And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (Isaiah 35:10). 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 and our resources on-line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Morning by Morning, Saturday 2-27-10 – “Renewal of All Things” Good morning, Lord Jesus. Into Your hands I commit my spirit, soul, and body—in this age and in the age to come. Put Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart, as You help me learn to live in Your ways. … “Then Peter said in reply, ‘Look, we have left everything and followed You. What then will we have?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man is seated on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields, for My name’s sake will receive a hundredfold, and will inherit eternal life” (Matthew 19:27-29). At the renewal of all things, You will set all things right. Every wound will be healed, every bondage will be broken. We will be emptied of ourselves and filled with You, freed from our will and our ways and committed to Yours. There will at last be peace on earth and peace in our souls. You are already in the process of renewing all things—all things we will now entrust into Your hands and surrender to Your will, as we welcome Your Spirit into the depths of our lives. “So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16). And in that process, You are shaking everything that needs to be shaken, breaking everything that needs to be broken, and restoring everything that needs to be restored. Sometimes it’s fun and sometimes it’s not; sometimes it breaks Your heart as much as it breaks ours; and sometimes the joy You have in Your Spirit of all we will become overflows into our spirits as well. “For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us 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 is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:17). No matter what we lose now in this age for the sake of our commitment to Christ, it will not even be worth comparing to all we will gain that really matters in the age to come. You give us room to grieve our loss, but You also give us grace to keep looking up, keep pressing in, and keep pressing on. Day by day, You’re still creating us, always renewing us, and forever making us into the image of our God. “Restore us to Yourself, O Lord, that we may be restored; renew our days as of old” (Lamentations 5:21). “You send forth Your Spirit, (we) are created; and You renew the face of the ground”; and You renew the hearts of Your people (Psalm 104:30). So let this be my prayer—morning by morning and day by day: “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10, KJV). It will be worth it forever. 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 and our resources on-line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org