Passion and Perseverance of Mary Magdalene 4-6-10

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You’re alive! Be alive in me by Your Spirit today. … “Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord!” and she told them the He had said these things to her” (John 20:18). I love Mary Magdalene. She’s probably my favorite disciple. She was deeply drawn to Your mercy and readily embraced Your power to forgive her of her sins, to heal her of her brokenness, and to free her from her spiritual oppression (Luke 8:2). And she never forgot it. She never took it for granted. And except for that day Your crucified body lay buried in that tomb behind the stone, she probably rarely let You out of her sight and never let You out of her heart. The one who was forgiven much loved much (Luke 7:47). I know the power of that principle—You have forgiven me of much, healed me of much, freed me of much; and now I love You very much. I never want to take You for granted, never want to forget all You’ve done for me, and never want to let You out of my sight. Mary stood at the foot of the cross on the day of Your crucifixion (John 19:25). And she stood at the door of the empty tomb on the day of Your resurrection (v. 20:1). Mary saw You first in the glory of Your resurrection (v. 20:14). You chose her alone to be the first to hear Your resurrected voice (v. 20:15). She couldn’t restrain the joy in her heart as she reached out to embrace Your resurrected body on Your way from Your burial chamber on earth to Your mercy seat in heaven (v. 20:17). You honored her passion and perseverance with the very first post-resurrection encounter of Your Presence. Some seem to have the testimony of a holy life—untainted, undefiled, somehow seeming to live above the challenges of sin and the ravages of disappointments and sorrows in this broken, fallen world. They seem to find it hard to have mercy for those less holy than they. They find the passion of Mary a little too extreme. And they find Your eagerness to forgive and free and heal one so undeserving as she a little too unsettling. That’s also a spiritual principle—“the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little” (Luke 7:47). I guess that’s why I love Mary Magdalene so much—I see a lot of me in her and a lot of her in me. And by the mercy and power of Your grace, I don’t plan on restraining my joy or letting go of my hold of my risen Lord. You honor me every day with the resurrection glory of Your Presence. May I never take it for granted. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, God bless you as you live out love and mercy we have in the resurrection power of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is risen indeed! I'm excited to get to spend this week with my daughter Madison on her spring break visiting my Mom in the mountains of New Mexico. So my morning prayers will likely be coming out a little later each morning this week from our earlier time zone. I'll be back in Lexington for our Breaking the Silence day of fasting and prayer this Saturday. Please come join us if you can in person or in prayer. Please come join us for two Messiah Ministries events coming up in Lexington, Kentucky in April, as well as The Fountain, our monthly citywide gathering for prayer, praise, and healing worship always at 7 pm on the 3rd Friday Night of every month: April 10, 2010 Day of Prayer and Fasting we're calling "Breaking the Silence--Restoring the Voice of Women in the Church" based upon Acts 2:17-18. Laura Beach and I will be leading in prayer along with various worship leaders throughout the day. April 28-May 1, 2010 "The Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry, Level 2." Please contact Marilyn, our Messiah Ministries Director of Ministries for more information: DirOfMinistries@aol.com 859-317-1591 The Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry, Level 2 A focused time of teaching, mentoring, discipleship, personal ministry, equipping, worshipping and prayer led by Tommy Hays and a Messiah Ministries teaching team of experienced prayer ministers. We will continue to 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. Level 2 gives deeper experience, opportunity, and practice in healing ministry. For more information or to Register for The Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry: Information/RegisterSchoolOfMinistryLevel2 Subscribe by email to Tommy Hays at Messiah Ministries: MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" To order my books and our ministry resources or contribute on-line: www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502

Suffering Servant, Faithful Son, Righteous One 4-2-10

Good morning, Lord Jesus. This is the day we remember Your cross. Your body was lifted up for me so that my heart could be lifted up to You. … “See My Servant shall prosper; He shall be exalted and lifted up, and shall be very high. Just as there were many who were astonished at Him—so marred was His appearance, beyond human semblance, and His form beyond that of mortals—so he shall startle many nations; kings shall shut their mouths because of Him; for that which had not been told them they shall see, and that which they had not heard they shall contemplate…. He was despised and rejected by others; a man of suffering and acquainted with infirmity; and as one from whom others hide their faces He was despised, and we held Him of no account. Surely He has borne our infirmities and carried out diseases; yet we accounted Him stricken, struck down by God and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the punishment that made us whole, and by His bruises we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have all turned to our own way, and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all…. Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush Him with pain. When You make His life and offering for sin, He shall see His offspring, and shall prolong His days; through Him the will of the Lord shall prosper. Out of His anguish He shall see light; He shall find satisfaction through His knowledge. The Righteous One, My Servant, shall make many righteous, and He shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will a lot Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong; because He poured out Himself to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for transgressors” (Isaiah 52:13 through 53:12). You are the Suffering Servant, the Faithful Son, the Righteous One. As Messiah, the Christ—both Son of God and Son of Man, having both the nature of God and the nature of man—You are the fulfillment of the words You spoke through the prophet Isaiah over seven hundred years before Your first coming to lay down Your life for us through the suffering of Your cross. You are the Manifestation of the Father, humbling Yourself in the form of the Son, so You could free us from our sins and abide within us by Your Holy Spirit. How can we imagine such a God who is so willing to suffer so much for our salvation? How can we grasp the choice You made the price Your paid for us to be able to live forever with You in a relationship of love? Only by the grace You give us to believe, only by the grace You give us to receive this indescribable gift of Your sacrifice of love. “For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the Righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring (us) to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit” (1 Peter 3:18). Because You died, now I can live Because You gave, now I can give Because You loved, now I can see Because You were, now I can be You are the One who gave it all You are the One who’s my All in All You are the One who loves me so You are the One I long to know So I will lift up Your name So I will sing You my praise So I will give You my heart So I will proclaim how great You are … You are a great God. And somehow in mystery of Your mercy and love, You were willing to greatly suffer for me. As I think about the suffering of Your cross this day, may I know the depth of Your love for me more than ever before. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, God bless you this Holy Week of preparing our hearts to experience the resurrection power of God through Jesus Christ our Lord! Please come join us for two Messiah Ministries events coming up in Lexington, Kentucky in April, as well as The Fountain, our monthly citywide gathering for prayer, praise, and healing worship always at 7 pm on the 3rd Friday Night of every month: April 10, 2010 Day of Prayer and Fasting we're calling "Breaking the Silence--Restoring the Voice of Women in the Church" based upon Acts 2:17-18. Laura Beach and I will be leading in prayer along with various worship leaders throughout the day. April 28-May 1, 2010 "The Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry, Level 2." Please contact Marilyn, our Messiah Ministries Director of Ministries for more information: DirOfMinistries@aol.com 859-317-1591 The Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry, Level 2 A focused time of teaching, mentoring, discipleship, personal ministry, equipping, worshipping and prayer led by Tommy Hays and a Messiah Ministries teaching team of experienced prayer ministers. We will continue to 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. Level 2 gives deeper experience, opportunity, and practice in healing ministry. For more information or to Register for The Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry: Information/RegisterSchoolOfMinistryLevel2 Subscribe by email to Tommy Hays at Messiah Ministries: MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" To order my books and our ministry resources or contribute on-line: www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502

The Hinge of History 4-1-10

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Holy One worthy of all praise, humble to ride on a donkey and allow sinful men to nail You to a cross, yet heralded by angels and all generations who bow their knees at the mention of Your name. I bow my knees and open my heart as I praise Your holy name in these first moments of my day. … “Then He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed, ‘Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet, not My will but Yours be done’ ” (Luke 22:41-42). The hinge of history hangs on Your prayer at the Garden of Gethsemane. As Son of Man, You had free will to choose whether to drink of the cup of all our sins, whether to submit and surrender to the will of the Father while knowing the horrific cost of Your sacrifice to come. And You wrestled with that choice. You anguished over all it mean. You counted the cost as You foresaw the moment when You would fulfill the prophecy of being forsaken by God in the moment our sins were imparted to You—“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46, fulfilling Psalm 22:1). Yet You chose to drink the cup. You chose to submit Your will to the will of the Father. You chose to sacrifice Your sinlessness for our sinfulness. You chose to break Your eternal intimacy with the Father so that we could have it, to allow Your righteousness to be defiled so that we could become the right with God through this sacrifice of Your love. “For our sake He made Him sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5;21). We cannot really even fathom the cost of all You were willing to endure by Your choice to drink that cup of our sins for our salvation. You were willing to go to hell on our behalf so that we would never have to (1 Peter 3:18-22). You were willing to be forsaken and separated from God the Father in the moment You became “the atoning sacrifice for our sins” so that we would never have to (1 John 2:2). “In this is love, not that we loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:10). But what if You had not been willing to make that choice? What if You had not been willing bow in prayer, to seek the will and the heart of the Father, and to yield to it no matter the cost? If Christ were not crucified we would still be dead in our sins (1 Corinthians 15:17). Our very lives hung in the balance of Your choice. Our capacity for intimacy of relationship with God swung on the hinge of history that night You kneeled in the Garden to pray. Without Gethsemane there would be no Good Friday. Without Your choice to yield to the will of God we would have no choice to embrace it ourselves. I really have no idea just how much Your choice cost. But as much as I know, I thank You and praise You now for making that choice for me then. When You chose to embrace the will of the Father, You chose to embrace the love of the Father for me. In this is love—the love of the Father and the love of the Son, now poured into my heart and the hearts of all who would humble themselves to believe it and receive it by the love of Your Holy Spirit now living in us by the mercy of Your grace (Romans 5:5). In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please come join us for two Messiah Ministries events coming up in Lexington, Kentucky in April: April 10, 2010 Day of Prayer and Fasting we're calling "Breaking the Silence--Restoring the Voice of Women in the Church" based upon Acts 2:17-18. Laura Beach and I will be leading in prayer along with various worship leaders throughout the day. April 28-May 1, 2010 "The Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry, Level 2." Please contact Marilyn, our Messiah Ministries Director of Ministries for more information: DirOfMinistries@aol.com 859-317-1591 The Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry, Level 2 A focused time of teaching, mentoring, discipleship, personal ministry, equipping, worshipping and prayer led by Tommy Hays and a Messiah Ministries teaching team of experienced prayer ministers. We will continue to 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. Level 2 gives deeper experience, opportunity, and practice in healing ministry. For more information or to Register for The Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry: Information/RegisterSchoolOfMinistryLevel2 God bless you this Holy Week of preparing our hearts to experience the resurrection power of God through Jesus Christ our Lord! Subscribe by email to Tommy Hays at Messiah Ministries: MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" To order my books and our ministry resources or contribute on-line: www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502

Turning Point of Humility 3-31-10

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I welcome You into my morning, and I want to walk with You throughout my day. … “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 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 should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:5-11). A friend of mine goes to a little church in a little town next to Lexington—Turning Point Church in Nicholasville, Kentucky. On Monday nights, a few of them gather to pray, to worship, to seek Your face, and welcome Your Presence their hearts, their church, and their city. And this Monday night of this Holy Week, Your Holy Spirit began to fill them with a deep sense of Your Holy Presence. My friend said You had been speaking to her about Your desire to pour out Your greatest anointing in these days—“the anointing of humility, because the last shall be first.” Several of us were moved with a hunger for Your Presence to join with them a second night to watch and wait and see what You would do. As we worshipped and waited with expectant and hungry hearts, I sensed a deep, abiding peace filling my soul. I felt what I would describe as a thickness or heaviness or weightiness of Your Holy Spirit. The thought came to mind, “No flesh can glory in the Presence of God.” I didn’t want to move. I could barely lift my arms in the gesture of my arms open wide to express the longing of my heart lifted up for the welcoming of Your Presence. After awhile, the prayer leader felt the children and young people were to come stand up front and asked me to share what came to my heart. I felt we were to pray for the burden of the Lord for each one of these young people, to stand before the one to whom You led us, and to speak the words of blessing and encouragement You gave us to speak into their lives. It seemed it was a measure of Your fulfillment of Your promise to restore the hearts of the children to the parents and the parents to the children in the days before the coming of the Lord (Malachi 4:6). Then the prayer leader felt we were to all to pray for one another in the deep waters of Your Presence that continued to fill that place and our hearts. My friend shared a vision that You opened a book and said, “Turning Point is in my appointment book.” Many could not stand in the glory of Your Presence. Many were humbled on our faces in the thickness and heaviness and weightiness of this encounter with Your Holy Spirit. I sense that same feeling even now. I pray for the Your anointing of humility. I pray You would bring low every high place in my heart that would try to exalt itself above You and Your will for my life. I pray You would teach me how to step aside and get out of the way for Your Spirit to move in the ways You choose. Let me have in me this mind of Christ, who humbled Himself. Crucify my flesh at the cross of Christ. Let this Holy Week be a holy journey to a deeper place of humility before You. This is a journey that has nothing to do with a place, but everything to do with giving You Your place in our hearts. This is the anointing of Your Presence I desire. I pray for the anointing of Your humility. Teach me to be last; teach me to be least, in trusting surrender to the leading of Your Spirit in every area of my life. Humility is the turning point. And this is the turning point in Your appointment book for us all. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please come join us for two Messiah Ministries events coming up in Lexington, Kentucky in April: April 10, 2010 Day of Prayer and Fasting we're calling "Breaking the Silence--Restoring the Voice of Women in the Church" based upon Acts 2:17-18. Laura Beach and I will be leading in prayer along with various worship leaders throughout the day. April 28-May 1, 2010 "The Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry, Level 2." Please contact Marilyn, our Messiah Ministries Director of Ministries for more information: DirOfMinistries@aol.com 859-317-1591 The Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry, Level 2 A focused time of teaching, mentoring, discipleship, personal ministry, equipping, worshipping and prayer led by Tommy Hays and a Messiah Ministries teaching team of experienced prayer ministers. We will continue to 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. Level 2 gives deeper experience, opportunity, and practice in healing ministry. For more information or to Register for The Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry: Information/RegisterSchoolOfMinistryLevel2 Friends, God bless you this Holy Week of preparing our hearts to experience the resurrection power of God through Jesus Christ our Lord! Subscribe by email to Tommy Hays at Messiah Ministries: MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" To order my books and our ministry resources or contribute on-line: www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502

The Choice of the Cross 3-30-10

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I journey with You to Your cross this Holy Week. Give me grace to journey with You to my cross every day. … “He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them what was to happen to Him, saying, ‘See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn Him to death; then they will hand Him over to the Gentiles; they will mock Him, and spit upon Him, and flog Him, and kill Him; and after three days He will rise again’ ” (Mark 10:32-34). You were not caught off guard; You were not surprised by what happen to You in the final week of Your life as Son of Man on this earth. Both Jew and Gentile, leaders of religion and leaders of government, representatives of all humanity, would reject You, dishonor You, defile You, and try to destroy You. Yet You willingly gave Yourself into their hands because You willingly gave Yourself into the Father’s hands. Ultimately, they had no power over You but what the Father allowed (John 19:11). And the Father set before You the choice to yield to His will or not, even knowing the cost of Your sacrifice to come (Luke 22:42). But You chose to trust the love of the Father for You and for all humanity, willingly offering Your life as a sacrifice of love for each of us. “For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have the power to lay it down, and I power to take it up again. I have received this command from My Father” (John 10:17-18). You were not blind to the cost of the sacrifice You would endure, but You chose to look beyond to cost of sacrifice to the joy of all it would forever accomplish for us. So when we remember Your journey to the cross and all the suffering of sacrifice You endured for us, we should not dwell on the hatred of men who wanted to take Your life but on the love of our Savior who willingly chose to endure the hatred of men for us for the sake of the joy it would ultimately bring to You and to us. Let us not look at their hearts, but look to Yours—“looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart” (Hebrews 12:2-3). Thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your choice to endure the suffering and sacrifice of the cross for me. Thank You, Lord, for loving me in that way beyond my comprehension and imagination. May my love and thanks to You in response to Your sacrifice for me bring You joy today. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, God bless you this Holy Week of preparing our hearts to experience the resurrection power of God through Jesus Christ our Lord! Subscribe by email to Tommy Hays at Messiah Ministries: MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" To order my books and our ministry resources or contribute on-line: www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502

“Blessed is the One Who Comes” 3-29-10

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Let me be centered in Your will; let Your will be centered in me. … “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your home is left to you, desolate. For I tell you, you will not see Me again until you say, ‘Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord’ ” (Matthew 23:37-39). Lord Jesus, do You lament over my city as You did over Jerusalem? Do You lament over my heart as You did over theirs? Your heart’s desire is that we would turn to You, trusting in the wisdom of Your ways and trusting in the nature of Your heart. You long to gather us close, keep us safe, and nurture us to grow up into maturity as the sons and daughters of God You’ve created us and called us to be. But so often our eyes are blind to the fullness of Your truth and our hearts are hardened to the depths of Your love. We tend to turn away from You and toward ourselves, rebelling against Your ways and embracing the ways of the world around us. And Your heart breaks, because You already see the destruction and desolation to come. We cannot truly see You until we see our need of You. If we think we have no sin, we have no need of a Savior. If we think we have all the wisdom we need to live well in our world, we have no need of the only wise King whose wisdom is from above. If we think we have no wounds or bondage that hurt us and hold us back from knowing our identity and fulfilling our destiny, we have no need of a Healer who comes to bind up the wounds of the broken-hearted and set the captives free. When we think our good deeds or our good intentions are enough to get by, we have no need of the One who says even our most righteous acts are as filthy rags apart from Your Spirit in our hearts and Your transformation of our lives. But when we humble ourselves in Your sight, You can lift us up and establish us in Your truth (James 4:10). When we humble ourselves to see ourselves as we truly are apart from You, then we can look up and see the One who comes in the name of the Lord. Then we can see the One who comes in the nature of the Lord—the One who loves us, who’s for us, who longs to forgive us and free us to live a life that empowers us to be all You created us to be. So for me and my city, let us not fail “to recognize the time of (our) visitation from God” (Luke 19:44). Let us not be found resisting the conviction of Your words or rejecting the mercy of Your love. Let us welcome You and embrace You in the fullness of Your glory among us, trusting in the goodness of Your intentions toward us. Let us not praise You one day with our mouths and crucify You the next in our actions. Let us humble ourselves in our hearts to look up and see You for who You are and welcome You just as You are into every area of our lives. Then we will know and then we can declare, “Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord” and blessed is the one who embraces You as Lord in our hearts and our city. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, God bless you this Holy Week of preparing our hearts to experience the resurrection power of God through Jesus Christ our Lord! Subscribe by email to Tommy Hays at Messiah Ministries: MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" To order my books and our ministry resources or contribute on-line: www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502

Joyful Givers 3-25-10

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I welcome You here in my heart and my home and every area of my life. … “All who saw it began to grumble and said, ‘He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.’ Zachaeus stood there and said to the Lord, ‘Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost’ ” (Luke 19:7-10). You love it when we seek You. But You are also a God who seeks us. You loved telling the story about the prodigal son running to the father, but You also loved telling the part of the story about the father running to the prodigal son (Luke 15:20). You are not a passive God. And You are not passive about our salvation. You’re passionate to seek us out and to save us—every last one of us. “Which one you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices!” (Luke 15:4-5) You are the God who is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9, KJV). And when we do, You rejoice! That day You called out to Zachaeus and he “hurried down and was happy to welcome (You)” Zachaeus was happy and full of joy for the day of his salvation, but so were You. You didn’t just check his name off Your list, You celebrated with him (Luke 19:5). And the celebration was just beginning, because not only did Zacahaeus’ heart toward You change that day, so did his heart toward others. He became a giver, a joyful giver! And he not only gave out of his excess, he gave in abundance (Luke 19:8). And how that again stirred Your heart with joy for the joy that rose up in Zachaeus’ heart to give. “For God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every abundance, so that always having enough for everything, you may share abundantly in every good work…. You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God…. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:7-15) Those with religious hearts will “grumble” and complain, trying to justify the hardness of their hearts and the self-centeredness of their souls (Luke 19:7). They’ll judge us for what we’ve done and what we deserve instead of rejoicing for what You’ve done despite how none of us deserve anything. Your salvation is Your indescribable gift. And when we’re truly saved by the power of the grace of God, we can’t help but be joyful givers too. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Subscribe by email to Tommy Hays at Messiah Ministries: MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" To order my books and our ministry resources or contribute on-line: www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502

Looking and Longing like Zachaeus 3-25-10

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I seek Your face and need Your grace. … “He entered Jericho and was passing through it. A man was there named Zachaeus; He was a chief tax collector and was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. See he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see Him, because He was going to pass that way. When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.’ So he hurried down and was happy to welcome Him” (Luke 19:1-6). On Your way to Your final, holy week in Jerusalem, it seems You were looking for those who were looking for You. You were happy to welcome those who were happy to welcome You. And Zachaeus was one of those who was trying to see who You were. He had heard of You, but he wanted to know You. The crowds of people were in his way, but he was tenacious and persistent in his quest to see You. But You already knew his name; You already saw his heart. And you called him out to come walk with You so You could come spend some time with him. Lord Jesus, I long for You to spend some time with me. Before I get up and get on with my day, before my time gets hidden away in the crowds of people, I long to look for You, excited for the moment I see You come and call out my name. You already know my name; You already know my heart to know You more. So Your Holy Spirit moves in my human spirit, drawing me near in the communion of prayer. As I watch and wait with an open heart and eager anticipation, seeking Your face and listening for Your voice, the yearning in my spirit for the encounter of Your presence moves me to persist in prayer until You come. Sometimes You come with a song. Sometimes You come with a thought, or an image, or a stirring of words from Your Scripture. Sometimes You come with stirring of my heart from Your Spirit. Sometimes You come and move me to tears, or to laughter, to peace or to joy. Sometimes You come and call me to just settle down in the stillness and quietness of the silence of surrender to Your will and Your way. But You always come. Because, at the same time, You’re always, already here. You’re here in my heart where I looked for You long ago, happy to welcome You in to come stay with me in the house of my heart that day and every day. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Subscribe by email to Tommy Hays at Messiah Ministries: MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" To order my books and our ministry resources or contribute on-line: www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502

“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