Morning by Morning, October 2, 2025 – “Find Me in The River”

 

Morning by Morning, October 2, 2025 – “Find Me in The River” Good morning, Lord Jesus. I’m waiting here for You. Heavenly Father, dear Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit of God. One God, O Lord my God, in every Dimension of Your Being, I’m waiting here for You. ... I couldn’t sleep, so I got up extra early to sit and wait and pray. A song keeps coming to mind in preparation for our gathering coming up on Saturday, where I believe You’ve led me to have a time of worship, witness, a word of encouragement for hope and healing, with healing prayer ministry for the victims and survivors of the Texas Hill Country flood along the Guadalupe River of central Texas in July. The song’s called “Find Me in the River. And the name of our gathering is “Meet Me at The River.” This morning, I keep crying, overwhelmed in the words and the heart of someone seeking You, needing You, desperate for You in the valley places, dry places, “cracked and dry” when they feel like You’ve gone or don’t see. As I listen, Your Word of reassurance comes to me from Isaiah 43: “But now thus says the Lord,     He who created you, O Jacob,     He who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;     I have called you by name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you,     and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,     and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God,     the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom,     Cush and Seba in exchange for you. Because you are precious in My sight     and honored and I love you, I give people in return for you,     nations in exchange for your life. Do not fear, for I am with you;     I will bring your offspring from the east,     and from the west I will gather you; I will say to the north, ‘Give them up,’     and to the south, ‘Do not withhold; bring My sons from far away     and My daughters from the end of the earth — everyone who is called by My name,     whom I created for My glory,     whom I formed and made” (Isaiah 43:1-7). Yes, Lord. You are with us in the valleys, in the rivers, in the waters, in the fires. In whatever we go through, You are with us. For You love us. You honor us. You’re for us. You’re with us. We don’t have to worry or be afraid. For we are not alone. So find me in the river with You. Thank You that I can find You in every river I go through. I keep hearing the words of the song in my spirit. I’ve been personalizing them and writing out my response in a dialogue with You all morning in my journal before coming to my prayer chair to write out this Morning by Morning devotional today. As I write out the words to this song, may You use it to minister Your healing and hope, reassurance and peace to all who read these words and join with me in prayer: Find me in the river, find me on my knees I've walked against the water, now I'm waiting if you please We've longed to see the roses, but never felt the thorns And bought our pretty crowns, but never paid the price Find me in the river, find me there Find me on my knees with my soul laid bare Even though you're gone and I'm cracked and dry Find me in the river, I'm waiting here for you We didn't count on suffering, we didn't count on pain But if the blessing's in the valley, then in the river I will wait Find me in the river, find me there Find me on my knees with my soul laid bare Even though you're gone and I'm cracked and dry Find me in the river Find me in the river, find me there Find me on my knees with my soul laid bare Even though you're gone and I'm cracked and dry Find me in the river, I'm waiting here for you I'm waiting here for you I'm waiting here for you   (Written by Martin Smith of Delirious Christian band. Hearing it sung here this morning: https://youtu.be/DZtztM2YAio?si=2ImXaUKE2qA_rJtF ) Here I am, Lord. Here in the River of Your Presence. Here in the reassurance of Your Love and Peace, no matter what. “Find me on my knees with my soul laid bare ... I’m waiting here for You.” In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. Be encouraged today. In the love of Jesus, Tommy Hays My friend, may you be found in the River of the Love of God, on your knees with your soul laid bare, knowing the reassurance of His peace and love for you, my friend! And you have a great day! Click Here to Listen to Today's Prayer: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2375760 Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries 502 North Milam Street Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 Please share this word to encourage a friend! Anyone can sign up for free at: https://messiah-ministries.org My Books on Inner Healing, Spiritual Freedom and Spiritual Intimacy with God are Available on Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/author/tommyhays “Setting hearts free to be all they were created to be —Free to Be Like Jesus— secure in your identity, growing in maturity, fulfilling your destiny" We Welcome Your Financial Support to Fulfill our Vision and Calling https://messiah-ministries.org/partner/contribute

Listen and Pray along with the words of this beautiful, powerful song, as I did this morning: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZtztM2YAio 

Please Keep us in Prayer for These Messiah Ministries Events and We Welcome You to Join Us as You're Led to Fulfill our Vision and Calling with Your Prayers and Financial Support https://messiah-ministries.org/partner/contribute Every Tuesday Night Starting Again September, 2025 We have begun again my annual 9 Month Equipping Course Free to Be Like Jesus! at Bridge Church Fredericksburg, Texas. 6:00PM Central Time  Zoom link available by request to my email.   tommyhays@messiah-ministries.org Based on My Book, Free to Be Like Jesus:  https://www.amazon.com/author/tommyhays  October 1 - Thank you for your prayers. We had a powerful time in the Presence of the Lord! Preaching at The Empty Cross of The Coming King Prayer Garden in Kerrville, Texas for final Day of Ten Days of Awe hosted by Texas Hill Country churches and ministries. 7PM October 2 Speaking at Boerne, Texas Lighthouse of Aglow International Ministries, Kendall Inn 7:00pm (not 7:30) October 4 Meet Me at the River. Leading a Community Gathering of Worship and Healing from the Trauma of the Hill Country Flood at the edge of the Guadalupe River between Kerrville and Hunt, Texas at Paradise River Bend at 3pm. Bring your lawn chairs please and please keep us in prayer if you can't come. Prayer Ministry Team please join us at 2:00. Messiah Ministries Facebook Event Page to share: https://www.facebook.com/share/1FA7dBuSx6/ October 21 Speaking at Around the Table Monthly Faith Based Social Gathering at Yee Haw Ranch Fredericksburg, Texas 6:30pm. All are Welcome.  September through December, 2025 Blocks of time when I can writing my next book. Welcoming your prayers for the inspiration and flow of the Holy Spirit. Thank you, friends! November Prayers for Returning for ministry in Pakistan in Karachi, Pattoki, and Lahore Personal Ministry Appointments Spiritual Direction Sessions and Personal Prayer Ministry Sessions of Inner Healing & Spiritual Freedom by Appointment in Person and Online through Zoom. tommyhays@messiah-ministries.org  Sessions are without set cost and all contributions help support the calling and vision of Messiah Ministries. https://messiah-ministries.org/partner/contribute

Free On-line Video Series: Setting Hearts Free!  My Core Teaching and Ministry https://messiah-ministries.org/resources

https://www.amazon.com/author/tommyhays

Morning by Morning, October 1, 2025 – The Day of Atonement, Embracing the Grace of God through Jesus Christ Who Is Our Eternal Atonement

 

Morning by Morning, October 1, 2025 – The Day of Atonement, Embracing the Grace of God through Jesus Christ Who Is Our Eternal Atonement Good morning, Lord Jesus. I open my heart and embrace Your Spirit, abiding in me as I abide in You (John 15:4; Romans 8:9). ... On the cycles of the Biblical Calendar, today at sunset begins The Day of Atonement and continues until sundown tomorrow. It’s the final day of the Ten Days of Awe that begin with The Feast of Trumpets and end on The Day of Atonement each year (Leviticus 23:24-34).   Of all the feasts and days of the Old Covenant, this is the holiest day of all — the day the high priest entered into the Holy of Holies of the temple to dash the blood of the sacrifice upon the Mercy Seat of God on top of the Ark of the Covenant between the wings of the cherubim: “And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: ‘Also the tenth day of this seventh month shall be the Day of Atonement. It shall be a holy convocation for you; you shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire to the Lord. And you shall do no work on that same day, for it is the Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the Lord your God” (Leviticus 23:26-28). Your Word says, “It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings” (v. 31). All the feasts and days, all the Law and the Prophets, are pointing to You and ultimately fulfilled in You, Lord Jesus. As You said, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill” (Matthew 5:17). It’s just as You opened the eyes of Your early disciples on their Walk to Emmaus with You immediately after Your resurrection to see this Truth: “And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, (Jesus) expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself” (Luke 24:27). Today, in Christ, no longer does a high priest go beyond the veil into the Holy of Holies of a temple made with human hands with the blood of an animal sacrifice to atone for the sins of the people. In fact, today, there is no veil. There is no temple. There is no mercy seat on this earth on the holy Mount Zion of Jerusalem as there was in those days before Your Sacrifice of Yourself on the Cross. That veil of that temple was torn from top to bottom when You offered Your Life and Your Blood as our Sacrifice on the Cross (Matthew 27:51). Today, there is no high priest, no sacrifice being offered on the Day of Atonement for the forgiveness of sins. As our Sacrifice, You were crucified, dead, buried, and raised from the dead in resurrection life and power! (Matthew 28:6) And not many years after, that temple was destroyed with not one stone left upon another, just as You had said before that day came (Matthew 24:2). That temple was destroyed, but now we are Your temple when we are cleansed in Your Blood through our faith in You! (1 Corinthians 3:16) Now there is no veil between us and the Holy of Holies of Your Presence! For now nothing “shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord!” (Romans 8:39) The Law and Rituals and Feasts and Sacrifices were all “a shadow of the good things to come” and be ultimately fulfilled in You (Hebrews 10:1). For You are “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29) “Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own Blood (Jesus) entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption” (Hebrews 9:12). “How much more shall the Blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Hebrews 9:14) “He has appeared to put away sin by the Sacrifice of Himself” (Hebrews 9:26). “But this Man (Jesus the Christ), after He had offered one Sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one Offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified” (Hebrews 10:12-14). Today, in Christ, we have boldness before God to draw near to You into the very Holy of Holies of Your Presence: “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the Blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:19-23). So on this Day of Atonement, and on every day, now that You have already, eternally atoned for all my sins, I enter into the Holy of Holies of Your Presence through the Blood of the Lamb, the Blood of Your Sacrifice of Love for me and for all who embrace the free gift of Your mercy and grace. You are our “New and Living Way,” our High Priest, and our Sacrifice (Hebrews 10:20). Your Blood is our Atonement for all our sins and failures, so that our hope, our faith, our forgiveness, and our salvation is in You alone by what You have eternally done for us (1 John 1:7; Acts 4:12). In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. Be encouraged today. In the love of Jesus, Tommy Hays My friend, may you embrace the free gift of God you have, entering the very Holy of Holies of the Presence of God through Jesus Christ our Eternal Sacrifice of Atonement, my friend! And you have a great day! Click Here to Listen to Today's Prayer: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2375760 Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries 502 North Milam Street Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 Please share this word to encourage a friend! Anyone can sign up for free at: https://messiah-ministries.org My Books on Inner Healing, Spiritual Freedom and Spiritual Intimacy with God are Available on Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/author/tommyhays “Setting hearts free to be all they were created to be —Free to Be Like Jesus— secure in your identity, growing in maturity, fulfilling your destiny" We Welcome Your Financial Support to Fulfill our Vision and Calling https://messiah-ministries.org/partner/contribute

Please Keep us in Prayer for These Messiah Ministries Events and We Welcome You to Join Us as You're Led to Fulfill our Vision and Calling with Your Prayers and Financial Support https://messiah-ministries.org/partner/contribute Every Tuesday Night Starting Again September, 2025 We have begun again my annual 9 Month Equipping Course Free to Be Like Jesus! at Bridge Church Fredericksburg, Texas. 6:00PM Central Time  Zoom link available by request to my email.   tommyhays@messiah-ministries.org Based on My Book, Free to Be Like Jesus:  https://www.amazon.com/author/tommyhays October 1 Preaching at The Empty Cross of The Coming King Prayer Garden in Kerrville, Texas for final Day of Ten Days of Awe hosted by Texas Hill Country churches and ministries. 7PM October 2 Speaking at Boerne, Texas Lighthouse of Aglow International Ministries, Kendall Inn 7:00pm (not 7:30) October 4 Meet Me at the River. Leading a Community Gathering of Worship and Healing from the Trauma of the Hill Country Flood at the edge of the Guadalupe River between Kerrville and Hunt, Texas at Paradise River Bend at 3pm. Bring your lawn chairs please and please keep us in prayer if you can't come. Prayer Ministry Team please join us at 2:00. Messiah Ministries Facebook Event Page to share: https://www.facebook.com/share/1FA7dBuSx6/ October 21 Speaking at Around the Table Monthly Faith Based Social Gathering at Yee Haw Ranch Fredericksburg, Texas 6:30pm. All are Welcome.  September through December, 2025 Blocks of time when I can writing my next book. Welcoming your prayers for the inspiration and flow of the Holy Spirit. Thank you, friends! November Prayers for Returning for ministry in Pakistan in Karachi, Pattoki, and Lahore Personal Ministry Appointments Spiritual Direction Sessions and Personal Prayer Ministry Sessions of Inner Healing & Spiritual Freedom by Appointment in Person and Online through Zoom. tommyhays@messiah-ministries.org  Sessions are without set cost and all contributions help support the calling and vision of Messiah Ministries. https://messiah-ministries.org/partner/contribute

Free On-line Video Series: Setting Hearts Free!  My Core Teaching and Ministry https://messiah-ministries.org/resources

https://www.amazon.com/author/tommyhays

Morning by Morning, September 30, 2025 — “Radiant” in the Presence of the Lord: Honoring the Life of Pepper Steventon

 

Morning by Morning, September 30, 2025 — “Radiant” in the Presence of the Lord: Honoring the Life of Pepper Steventon Good morning, Lord Jesus. I speak out Your name and listen for Your voice to begin my day embraced by my Father, centered in Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit (John 10:27). ... “I sought the Lord, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears. They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces were not ashamed” (Psalm 34:4-5). We’ve just returned from a few days with family in Arizona, where I was honored to lead the Celebration of Life for my stepsister, Pepper Steventon. At only 53 years of age, her passing was truly tragic and unexpected from an infection at the hospital, after overcoming two battles with cancer. As her name says, she was truly the spice of life. And now we all take such comfort that she’s looking to You, radiant in Your Presence, adding a little spice to heaven. No more sorrow. No more pain. Only eternal joy. Thank You for the grace to both grieve the loss of our loved ones here on earth, while at the same time, celebrating their lives here on earth and also forever with You. These kinds of funerals are so much different than the other kinds. As Your Word comforts us in the passing of one who knows You in personal relationship: “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13).   Thank You that we do have hope. You are our Hope. And in You, we have assurance of the eternal peace and joy that’s found in You alone. “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).   Pepper had that rare spirit of being both a hard-charging CEO of her business while also being a loving wife, devoted mother and daughter, loved and cherished by family and friends. Her battles with cancer and its effects, along with all the other battles and challenges of her life, only drew her closer to You, with her faith outspoken, vibrant and radiant. What a witness. What an inspiration.   She sought You and You heard her. You delivered her from all her fears. Sometimes those answers come here on earth; sometimes they come in heaven. She’s in heaven now. She’s radiant now. “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!” (1 Corinthians 15:57)   But we can all carry that same heaven in our hearts today, with that same personal relationship with You. “On earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). For Your kingdom of heaven is also within us, as we abide in You and You abide in us (Luke 17:21; John 15:4). And with Your kingdom of heaven within us, we can already experience Your “righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” who’s living in us, comforting us, leading us through the valleys of the shadow of death with Your ever-abiding Presence with us through it all (Romans 14:17; Psalm 23). In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. Be encouraged today. In the love of Jesus, Tommy Hays My friend, may you be radiant with the Presence of the Lord, as you abide in Him and He abides in you every day, in Jesus' name. God bless you, my friend! And you have a great day! Click Here to Listen to Today's Prayer: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2375760 Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries 502 North Milam Street Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 Please share this word to encourage a friend! Anyone can sign up for free at: https://messiah-ministries.org My Books on Inner Healing, Spiritual Freedom and Spiritual Intimacy with God are Available on Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/author/tommyhays “Setting hearts free to be all they were created to be —Free to Be Like Jesus— secure in your identity, growing in maturity, fulfilling your destiny" We Welcome Your Financial Support to Fulfill our Vision and Calling https://messiah-ministries.org/partner/contribute

Please Keep us in Prayer for These Messiah Ministries Events and We Welcome You to Join Us as You're Led to Fulfill our Vision and Calling with Your Prayers and Financial Support https://messiah-ministries.org/partner/contribute Every Tuesday Night Starting Again September, 2025 We have begun again my annual 9 Month Equipping Course Free to Be Like Jesus! at Bridge Church Fredericksburg, Texas. 6:00PM Central Time  Zoom link available by request to my email.   tommyhays@messiah-ministries.org Based on My Book, Free to Be Like Jesus:  https://www.amazon.com/author/tommyhays September 27 - Thank you for your prayers! Officiate the Celebration of Life of Pepper Steventon in Phoenix, ArizonaSeptember 30 Meet and Pray with Pastor David Danielson of Impact Church with Dr. Sandy Kirk, to bring the pastors and leaders in the Kerrville area together for our Meet Me at the River community gathering for worship, witness, and healing prayer ministry from the trauma of the Hill Country Flood of the Guadalupe River in central Texas. October 1 Preaching at The Empty Cross of The Coming King Prayer Garden in Kerrville, Texas for final Day of Ten Days of Awe hosted by Texas Hill Country churches and ministries. October 2 Speaking at Boerne, Texas Lighthouse of Aglow International Ministries, Kendall Inn 7:00pm (not 7:30) October 4 Meet Me at the River. Leading a Community Gathering of Worship and Healing from the Trauma of the Hill Country Flood at the edge of the Guadalupe River between Kerrville and Hunt, Texas at Paradise River Bend at 3pm. Bring your lawn chairs please and please keep us in prayer if you can't come. Prayer Ministry Team please join us at 2:00. Messiah Ministries Facebook Event Page to share: https://www.facebook.com/share/1FA7dBuSx6/ October 21 Speaking at Around the Table Monthly Faith Based Social Gathering at Yee Haw Ranch Fredericksburg, Texas 6:30pm. All are Welcome.  September through December, 2025 Blocks of time when I can writing my next book. Welcoming your prayers for the inspiration and flow of the Holy Spirit. Thank you, friends! November Prayers for Returning for ministry in Pakistan in Karachi, Pattoki, and Lahore Personal Ministry Appointments Spiritual Direction Sessions and Personal Prayer Ministry Sessions of Inner Healing & Spiritual Freedom by Appointment in Person and Online through Zoom. tommyhays@messiah-ministries.org  Sessions are without set cost and all contributions help support the calling and vision of Messiah Ministries. https://messiah-ministries.org/partner/contribute

Free On-line Video Series: Setting Hearts Free!  My Core Teaching and Ministry https://messiah-ministries.org/resources

https://www.amazon.com/author/tommyhays