Monday, December 15, 2014

Morning by Morning, December 15 - Fear Not What's "from the Holy Spirit"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be at the center of my thoughts and the foundation of my day.  ...

"'Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son, and you are to name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins'" (Matthew 1:20-21).

Sometimes the hardest things to embrace are the things "from the Holy Spirit." They can make us afraid or uncomfortable because they often lead us in a direction we weren't planning or come at a time we didn't choose. But everything from the Holy Spirit is from Your heart and for our good.

So You invite us to listen for Your leading and trust in Your goodness. You call us to believe that the plans You have for our lives will fill our future with Your hope. Joseph did. "When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a Son; and he named Him Jesus" (v. 1:23-25).

Lord, help me listen for the leading of Your Holy Spirit. And help me trust that everything that comes from Your Spirit is for my good. Free me from fear and doubt. Give me confidence and peace to rest in Your purposes and Your provision. All in Your time and all in Your way, something good is always sure to come. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

 
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays


My Friend,  I pray God's grace to embrace everything for your life from the Holy Spirit in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
  
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257

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Friday, December 12, 2014

Morning by Morning, December 12 - Crooked Paths Can Still Lead Us Home by God's Grace

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Your name is the first word I speak today, as I entrust my heart and this day into Your hands.  ...

"An account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob ... and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab ... and David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah ... and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon ... and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah" (Matthew 1:1-16).

It helps me see the power of the grace of God when I see the genealogy of Jesus. Among all the heroes and saints of the faith in the family tree of Jesus were also many who were not so heroic and not so saintly. And some who were famously both saint and sinner, like King David, who was both the giant-slayer, passionate psalmist after God's own heart, and popular king but also an adulterer and murderer.

Jacob was a liar who stole his brother's birthright. Rahab was a prostitute. The wife of Uriah was David's adulteress. And the whole nation of men and women rebelled against God until judgment couldn't be withheld any longer and they were all deported in exile to Bablyon for seventy years.

Yet You, O Lord, redeemed it all. In the power of Your grace, You caused that crooked path to lead home to Jesus.

Thank You, Father. You still send Your Holy Spirit to take all our crooked paths and all our broken lives and lead us to Jesus. You still redeem it all to cause all things to work together for good when we love You and allow You to forgive us and fulfill us in the plans and calling You have for our lives (Romans 8:28).

Thank You for forgiving me of my sins, for healing me of my brokenness, for choosing to use my life in Your plans, despite every crooked path of my life. Thank You for causing all my crooked paths to lead me home to You. Thank You for this eternal truth of Your unfailing love:  "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:22-23). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

 
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays


My Friend,  I pray the Holy Spirit will keep leading you home to Jesus, redeeming any brokenness or failures in your life, as He uses it all and empowers you to fulfill your calling in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
  
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257

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Thursday, December 11, 2014

Morning by Morning, December 11 - Royal Bloodline

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I seek Your face and listen for Your voice.  ...

"Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When His mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with Child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, 'Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the Child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son, and you are to name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.' All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:  'Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name Him Emmanuel,' which means, 'God is with us'" (Matthew 1:18:23).

Before the angel of the Lord spoke to Joseph of his destiny, the angel reminded him of his identity. Joseph was a "son of David." He came from the royal bloodline of the King of Israel. Though he was carpenter and probably a very simple man, living a very simple life, he was also a royal son.

Then, secure in his identity, Joseph could fulfill his destiny. "When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a Son; and he named Him Jesus" (v. 1:24-25).

Like Joseph, I am also a royal son with a royal bloodline. Through Christ, I am a son of God, a child of the one true King, "for in Christ (we) are all children of God through faith" (Galatians 3:26). Through Christ, I am also a rightful heir according to the promises of God (Galatians 3:29). 

Through Jesus the Messiah, who came and saved me from all my sins, I am cleansed by His royal blood and can take my place in His royal bloodline (1 John 1:9). I can rest secure in my identity and fulfill my destiny as a part of "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that (I) may proclaim the mighty acts of Him who called (me) out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

 
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays


My Friend,  I pray you will know the security of your identity as a child of God in the royal bloodline of Jesus Christ and live out your destiny serving and glorifying Him with your life today in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
  
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257

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Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Morning by Morning, December 10 - Sovereignty and Freedom in the Purposes of God

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I lift up my spirit and open up my heart to welcome in to every moment of my day.  ...

"In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that the world should be registered.... All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended form the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a Child" (Luke 2:1-5).

Father God, You are sovereign, yet we are free. You are at work in all the details and choices of our lives. You know every choice we will ever make in the freedom that a relationship of love requires; and at the same time, You are at work in every detail of every choice, causing all things to work together for our good and for Your purposes.

Long before the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, You spoke through Your prophet that Your Messiah would be born in Bethlehem:  "But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for Me One who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days ... and He shall be the One of peace" (Micah 5:2-5).

So Emperor August chose to call every family Israel to their ancestral home. Joseph chose to take his pregnant wife Mary on the long journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem. And Mary chose to go with him. Each made their choice at exactly the time You sovereignly chose to bring forth Your Messiah into our world--Jesus of Nazareth who would be born in Bethlehem.

Father, thank You for Your sovereignty and my freedom. In Your sovereignty, You created me for a relationship of love; and a true relationship of love requires that I have the freedom to trust You, to love You, to follow You or not. Otherwise it wouldn't be freedom and it wouldn't be love. You've created me in Your image, and Your image is love (1 John 3:8). You've chosen to love me and I've chosen to love You.  And I can feely love You because You sovereignly chose to first love me (1 John 4:19).

Lord, I trust You to be at work in me and every detail of every decision of my life--even the bad ones that You always redeem when I finally give them to You, causing them all to work together for good (Romans 8:28). I trust You to move in my heart and guide my steps along the long journey of Your will for my life. "Let it be with me according to Your word" (Luke 1:38).

 
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays


My friend,  I pray you will be know God's love for and trust God's purposes for you in every decision you make in the freedom you have as a gift of God in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
  
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257

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Tuesday, December 09, 2014


Morning by Morning, December 9 - "Mighty Savior"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Make me more like You today.  ...

"Then (John's) father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophecy:  'Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He has looked favorably on His people and redeemed them. He has raised up a mighty Savior for us in the house of David, as He spoke through the mouth of His holy prophets from of old, that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us. Thus He has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and has remembered His holy covenant, the oath that He swore to our ancestor Abraham, to grant us the we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days" (Luke 1:67-75).

Lord Jesus, You are our mighty Savior. You save us from our enemies and from our sins. You deliver us from darkness. You heal our wounded hearts and restore our weary souls.

You fill us with Your Holy Spirit to prophesy and proclaim the goodness of our God, the faithfulness of our Father. You remind us of the covenants that cannot be broken and the hope of heaven to come, here in our hearts and for all eternity.

Father. Son, and Holy Spirit--You are the Lord our God. And in the mystery of faith through the incarnation of Christ, You humbled Yourself to come as Child and show us the heart of God as Immanuel, God with us (Matthew 1:23). Through the gift of Your birth and the glory of Your resurrection, we can love and serve You without fear, in holiness and righteousness before our God all our days. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

 
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays


My Friend,  I pray you will be filled with the Holy Spirit to prophesy and proclaim the love of God lavished upon us through our mighty Savior in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
  
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257

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Monday, December 08, 2014

Morning by Morning, December 8 - Prepared in Our Hearts for the Coming of Christ

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I prepare room for You in the manger of my heart and the moments of my day.  ...

"Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown His great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.... All who heard (of God's miraculous signs and mercy concerning the conception and birth of John the Baptist) pondered them and said, 'What then will this child become?' For, indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him" (Luke 1:57-66).

Zechariah was too old and Elizabeth was too barren to have a child. But You spoke to their hearts and moved in Your power to give them a child who would be named John (Luke 1:13). As Your words came to pass, all were amazed and moved with expectant faith for what was to come.

John would grow up to "be great in the sight of the Lord" and "turn the hearts of the people of Israel to the Lord their God" (v. 1:14-16). "With the spirit and power of Elijah ... (he would) turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord," fulfilling the promises You prophesied would come (v. 1:17).

Father God, before Your Holy Spirit conceived Jesus in the womb of Mary, Your Spirit conceived John in the womb of Elizabeth. John was divinely destined to "prepare the way of the Lord" for Jesus (v. 3:4). And as his birth and life began to unfold, the people were excited and expectant for how this great story would be told.

In this season when we celebrate the coming of Christ, send Your Spirit and power to first prepare the way of the Lord in our hearts. Turn our hearts again to You. Let us ponder Your miraculous signs and mercy all around us every day. And may we be excited and expectant for how Your great story will unfold and be told in our time. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

 
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays


My Friend,  I pray the Holy Spirit will come and prepare the way of the Lord in your heart for the coming of Christ every moment of every day in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
  
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257

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Friday, December 05, 2014

Morning by Morning, December 5 - Expectant Faith for New Possibilities

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I believe in You. You are the Light of the world and the Salvation of all.  ...

"And Mary said, 'My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has looked with favor on the lowliness of His servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things fro me, and holy is His name. His mercy is for those who fear Him from generation to generation'" (Luke 1:46-50).

Mary believed You and praised You. "She believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord" (v. 45). Her spirit came alive with expectant faith in You and the new possibilities for her life and her people (vv. 51-55).

She believed You were the Messiah--the Mighty One, the Anointed One--who would do great things. You were the sign of hope for the people of God, promised long ago and now fulfilled:  "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign:  Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel" (Isaiah 7:14 NKJV).

You are Immanuel--God with us (Matthew 1:23). You are the Mighty and Anointed One who forgives our sins, heals our wounds, breaks our chains, and restores our hope. Mary's Child and Son of God, You are our "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace"--the Promise of God fulfilled (Isaiah 9:6).

How can we help but magnify the Lord. Just as You came into Mary's womb two thousand years ago, You still come into our hearts to fill our spirits with expectant faith for the new possibilities of life in You every day. You are the God who does great things for us, because You are the God who is always with us (Matthew 28:20). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

 
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays


My Friend,  I pray your spirit will come alive and you will be filled with expectant faith for new possibilities in Christ, as you believe in Him with all your heart in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
  
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257

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Thursday, December 04, 2014

Morning by Morning, December 4 - Blessed with the Joy of Christ

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I come and adore You, Christ my Lord. ...

"In those days Mary set out and went to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, 'Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord'" (Luke 1:39:45).

Mary believed and Mary conceived. Everywhere she went, she carried the Presence of the Lord. Those she encountered were suddenly filled with the Holy Spirit and leaping for joy. She carried Christ in her.

And so do we. We have "Christ in (us), the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). We carry "the Spirit of Christ" within us everywhere we go (Romans 8:9).

When we enter a room, the spiritual atmosphere should change. When we encounter anyone, something inside of them should be leaping for joy because they sense "the Spirit of Jesus Christ" inside of us (Philippians 1:19). The kingdom comes near to them, the kingdom is at hand to them, because the King of the kingdom is within us (Luke 17:21). And the kingdom within us is "righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 17:14). Blessed are we among the women and men of this world.

Father God, like Mary, I choose to believe what You have conceived in me. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit, with the Spirit of Christ in me today. In the power of Your grace and this mystery of faith, let me carry Christ and the joy of the Lord wherever I go. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

 
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays


My Friend,  I pray you will be filled with joy of Christ as you carry Him and His kingdom within you everywhere you go in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
  
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257

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Wednesday, December 03, 2014

Morning by Morning, December 3 - Believe

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are One with the Father and One with the Holy Spirit. Be One within me today, I pray.  ...

"Mary said to the angel, 'How can this be, since I am a virgin?' The angel said to her, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the Child to be born will be holy; He will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.' Then Mary said, 'Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it with me according to your word.' Then the angel departed from her" (Luke 1:34-38).

You are the God who speaks life into the empty wombs of virgin girls and old women. You are the God who speaks life to dry bones and fallen nations (Ezekiel 37:1-14). You are the God who brings life from death, hope from discouragement, healing from brokenness, freedom from bondage, and beauty from ashes (Isaiah 61:1-4). In the power of the Most High, nothing is impossible for You.

At first, Mary wondered at Your word, asking "How can this be?" You give us grace to ask our questions and express our doubts. But You also give us grace to believe. And Mary chose to believe. Her response of faith was "Here am I."

Lord, give me grace to believe. Give me faith to fully trust You and Your word and Your will for my life. For You, nothing is impossible. And by the grace of God in the power of the Most High, "all things are possible to him who believes" (Mark 9:23 NKJV). As best as I and all by Your grace, I choose to believe. And in faith believing, I say to You, "Here am I." In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

 
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays


My Friend,  I pray the Holy Spirit will come upon you in the power of the Most High to give you faith to believe the word of God for your life in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

 
Friends, I'm excited to preaching with Max Lucado tonight at a First Wednesday Healing and Worship Service at the Crownridge Campus of Oak Hills Church in San Antonio at 7pm Central Time. We'll be sharing a message of hope and healing, then our Rapha God Ministries Prayer Team will join the Oak Hills Prayer Team to pray with everyone personally. Please come join us if you can. All are welcome. Please keep us in prayer.
Max Lucado and Tommy Hays
 

 

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
  
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257

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Tuesday, December 02, 2014

Morning by Morning, December 2 - Conceive Christ

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Speak to my heart and guide my thoughts as I start my day looking to You.  ...

"The angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a Son, and you will name Him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to Him the throne of His ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end' " (Luke 1:30-33).

I hear You writing these words as a prayer from my heart:

You came as a Child, conceived in a womb
Destined to reign as King after the cross and the tomb
Of Your kingdom there will be no end
Upon Your sacrifice our salvation depends
You set aside the glory of heaven to humble Yourself in human flesh
You call us to set aside our flesh to reign with You in all Your gloriousness

Come, Holy Spirit. Conceive the Spirit of Christ in me. Conform the nature of Christ in me.

"But (we) are not in the flesh; (we) are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in (us). Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Him. But if Christ is in (us), through the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in (us), He who raised Christ from the dead will give life to (our) mortal bodies also through His Spirit that dwells in (us)" (Romans 8:9-11). 

Morning by morning, step by step, empower me to grow up "to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ" (Ephesians 4:13). Like Mary, let me not fear, but have faith to believe Your favor is upon me, You are with me, and Your Spirit is within me to empower me to live into my calling and destiny in Christ. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

 
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays


My Friend,  I pray the Holy Spirit will conceive the nature of Christ in you in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

 

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
  
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257

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Monday, December 01, 2014


Morning by Morning, December 1 - "Favored One"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Lead me in the way that leads to life in You today.  ...

"In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, 'Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you' " (Luke 1:26:28).

Mary was a "favored one." The favor of God was upon her life. The Presence of God was in her life. She was chosen by God with calling and purpose and destiny.

So are we.

You are with us. We are favored by God, created and chosen with calling and purpose and destiny. Our calling will not be to carry the Messiah in our womb. Our purpose will not be to raise from birth the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world. But our destiny will be to live out the calling and purpose You've placed in our hearts to explore in Your grace and experience in Your power. "For we are what He made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life" (Ephesians 2:10).

By the grace of God, I am a favored one. By the grace of God, You are with me--speaking to my spirit, sending angels to watch over my steps. I may not always recognize Your voice and may not always recognize the helpers You send, but I can rest in the truth that You have plans and purpose for the journey of my life in the favor of God (Jeremiah 29:11).

"Let Your work be manifest to Your servants, and Your glorious power to their children. Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and prosper for us the work of our hands--O prosper the work of our hands" (Psalm 90:16-17). Lord, let the work of our hands be a grateful expression of the confidence in our hearts that we live each day with the favor of God upon our lives. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

 
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays


My Friend,  I pray you will experience the favor of God upon your life to live into your calling, purpose, and destiny in Christ. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

 
Friends, I hope you had a great time of Thanksgiving with family and friends. Thank you for joining with me in this journey of prayer, as we begin to turn our thoughts to the Christmas season celebrating the birth of Christ. God bless you!

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
  
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257

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Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Morning by Morning, November 26 - Honoring Margaret Therkelsen

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Let this day be all for You.  ...

"I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you" (2 Timothy 1).

Thank You, Lord for the spiritual mothers and fathers in the faith, the spiritual teachers and mentors You use to change our lives along our journey. Margaret Therkelsen was one of those spiritual mothers, one of those spiritual giants, for me. Together with those who deeply loved her and were deeply loved by her, we celebrated her life and her unspeakable impact upon our lives, entrusting her forever into Your eternal embrace. We'll always love her, because You loved us through her.

She was an accomplished pianist, powerful preacher, anointed teacher, spiritual director, and prayer warrior. Probably her most profound impact upon my life was through the weekly prayer group she led for over thirty-five years from the heart of the city in Lexington, Kentucky. I was honored and blessed to be a part of those vibrant, tender, mountain-moving, hell-shaking, passionately powerful times of prayer in the Presence of God through the years of my time in Kentucky.

I can truly say Margaret Therkelsen taught me to pray. And now she's taken her place in Your "great cloud of witnesses," cheering us on, full of the joy of knowing for sure all is well (Hebrews 12:1). She's praying those perfect prayers from certain victory and deep rest in the fulfillment of every promise, face to face with her Savior who "always lives to make intercession" (Hebrews 7:25). With all who knew her, I'll always hear her famous words to any of us who needed an answer, direction, healing, or hope--"Honey, you just gotta get to Jesus." Now, she truly has.

In this moment, I can't fully express in words all I feel in my heart, so I simply say, Lord Jesus, I honor this woman who powerfully impacted my life by always leading me to You. I love Margaret Therkelsen. But I know You love her even more. Thank You for sharing her with me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

 
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays


My Friend,  I pray you will be encouraged and inspired by those the Lord brings into your life to pray for you and lead you to Jesus through their love and their lives. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

 

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
  
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257

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Friday, November 21, 2014

Morning by Morning, November 21 - "Endued with Power from on High"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are my Lord and Savior, my Healer and Deliverer. You are my "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6). I call on Your name and wait in Your Presence to be "endued with power from on high" (Luke 24:49 NKJV).  ...

Come, Holy Spirit. Apart from You, apart from the Spirit of Christ abiding in me, I can do nothing (John 5:5). And I thank You that I never have to spend a moment of any day apart from You. You are with me always (Matthew 28:20). With You in my heart, guiding my thoughts and ordering my steps, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13). 

"For God all things are possible" (Mark 10:27). And with Your Spirit in me, "all things are possible to him who believes" (Mark 9:23). So I choose to believe. And I'm expectant to see what You will make possible in Your power today. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

 
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays


My Friend,  I pray you will be endued with power from on high today, as you live into new possibilities in the Lord our God. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

Friends, please keep me in prayer for the Holy Spirit's leading and anointing as I continue to minister the healing love God in the name of Jesus in Franklin, Tennessee for these few days. I pray for breakthrough in the lives of those here and in yours. God bless you!

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
  
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257

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Thursday, November 20, 2014

Morning by Morning, November 20 - Anointed and Empowered by the Holy Spirit

Good morning, Lord Jesus. As best as I can and all by Your grace, I humble myself before You and willingly choose to be desperately dependent upon You alone.  ...

"You know the message He sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ--He is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced:  how God anointed Jesus Christ of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him" (Acts 10:36-38).

Jesus, You are Lord of all--Lord of my life, Lord of my ministry, Lord every experience and encounter I'll have today. Empower me with Your Spirit to be Your disciple today. 

With Your nature in my heart and Your name on my lips, let me see sickness bow and demons flee. Let me see injustice set right and what's been stolen restored. Let me see captive set free and the wounded made whole. Let me see You cause all things to work together for good as You continue Your ministry of going about going done through me and every one of Your disciples, throughout all the places who Your Spirit sends us today. 

Father God, anoint me and remind me that the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is the Spirit at work in me and through me each day (Romans 8:9-11). For that reason alone, I am empowered to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. Come, Holy Spirit. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

 
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays


My Friend,  I pray our Father God will anoint you and empower you with the Holy Spirit to be a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ everywhere He sends you today, with the nature of Jesus in your heart and His name on your lips. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

Friends, please keep me in prayer for the Holy Spirit's leading and anointing as I continue to minister the healing love God in the name of Jesus in Franklin, Tennessee the next few days. I pray for breakthrough in the lives of those here and in yours. God bless you!

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
  
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257

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Monday, November 17, 2014

Morning by Morning, November 17 - Trinity of Love, Grace, and Communion in God

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I lift up my heart to You and listen for the leading of Your Spirit.  ...

"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of (us)" (2 Corinthians 13:13)

Lord God-Father, Son, and Holy Spirit-how I need Your love, Your grace, and Your communion. In Your love, I am confident and secure. In Your grace, I am forgiven and free. In Your communion I am embraced and empowered.

Lord, let every dimension of my being be fully alive to fully receive every dimension of Your Being. Let me see You as You are and see myself as I am, every day, all the way, as best as I can and all by Your grace. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

 
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays


My Friend,  I pray you deeply in Your heart the Trinity of God in His love, grace, and communion with you. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

Friends, Thank You so much for all your prayers for us this past weekend at the Breakthrough Prayer Conference at Bear Creek United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas. The Holy Spirit moved mightily in our hearts all weekend. Please pray that all the seeds the Lord has sown of spirit and life for healing and freedom through prayer will grow into a great harvest for the Kingdom of God! I pray the same for your church and ministry.


Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
  
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257

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Friday, November 14, 2014

Morning by Morning, November 14 - "Listen from Your Heart"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I entrust this day into Your hands and my life into Your will.  ...

"Morning by morning He wakens -- wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught" (Isaiah 50:4).

I'm listening, Lord. Teach me Your truth; lead me in Your ways. ...

As I watch and wait and listen, it seems I hear You singing a simple song to my heart:

Listen from your heart
I will tell you who you are
Listen for My voice
Come away from all the noise
Wait awhile with Me
And I will show you who I Am

Set aside this time
Seek Me and you will find
I've been waiting here for you
Longing to speak with you
Wait awhile with Me
And I will show you who I Am

Yes, Lord. As I wait upon You this morning, its seems You're revealing to me a dimension of Your gentleness. Waiting in Your Presence, I don't feel anxious; I don't feel hurried. I feel at peace in Your embrace. Though I have much to do, all of that can wait a little while, while I wait awhile with You.

Now Your Spirit is bringing Your Words for this Scripture to mind:  "Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light" (Matthew 11:20-30).

Yes, Lord. I take Your yoke upon me. I seek to learn from You and Your ways. Thank You for this gift of waiting awhile with You in these first moments of my day in the gentleness and peace of Your embrace. Now I can rise and go about my day knowing I gave You my best part. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

 
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays


My Friend,  I pray you will hear the voice of God as you set aside time to watch and wait and listen for Him. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!


Breakthrough Prayer Conference! For my friends in the Houston, Texas area, please come join us this weekend, Nov 15-16, at Bear Creek United Methodist Church where I'll be teaching on Healing Prayer Ministry Saturday and Sunday and preaching all three services Sunday morning. All are welcome.


Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
  
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257

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Thursday, November 13, 2014

Morning by Morning, November 13 - Power Words

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Put Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart. Align my will with Your will and my ways with Your ways as I choose to follow You today, as best as I can and all by Your grace.  ...

"Then the Lord put out His hand and touched my mouth; and the Lord said to me, 'Now I have put My words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant'" (Jeremiah 1:9-10).

You put Your words in Jeremiah's mouth so that the words he spoke came from Your heart. They were power words because they were Your words. 

You sent Jeremiah to the people and the places where You wanted to make a difference through his life. You gave him the responsibility and the authority he would need to do Your will with his life. And the same is true for each of us.

Come, Holy Spirit. Put Your words in my mouth. Let it be "the Spirit of (my) Father speaking through (me)" (Matthew 10:19-20). With the Spirit of Christ living through me, let me "speak just as the Father has told me" (John 12:49). Let my life make a difference in someone else's life today, because You speak Your heart through my words (1 Peter 4:11). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

 
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays


My Friends,  I pray the Holy Spirit will put our Father's power words in your mouth to make a difference in someone's life today. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

Friends, please keep us in prayer tonight for our final session of our Level 2 School of Ministry in San Antonio. If you're able please come join us for our next School in January, 2015 www.RaphaGodMinistries.com 

Breakthrough Prayer Conference! For my friends in the Houston, Texas area, please come join us this weekend, Nov 15-16, at Bear Creek United Methodist Church where I'll be teaching on Healing Prayer Ministry Saturday and Sunday and preaching all three services Sunday morning. All are welcome.

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
  
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257

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