Home from the Harvest with Joy 8-31-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are the One who sends me out and You are the One who brings me home. I welcome You to be at home in my heart today. ... "After this, the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of them in pairs to every town and place where He Himself intended to go. He said to them, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into this harvest. ... The seventy returned with joy, saying, 'Lord, in Your name even the demons submit to us!' ... At that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit ..." (Luke 10:1-21). Thank You, Lord, for sending me out into Your harvest and thank You for bringing home with joy. Thank You for letting me sense a measure of the pleasure in You heart for our team who were obedient to go and serve in the harvest fields of Estonia and for those of our team who were faithful to stay and serve in the war room of prayer at home. Thank You that we can join You to rejoice in the Holy Spirit for the lives You touch through the lives of Your church when we are obedient to go where You send us and do what You send us to do. We rejoice that our names are written in heaven, and that through the ministry of Your love and power through laborers of Your harvest, many others will know their names are now written in heaven too (v. 10:20). You are the Lord of the harvest and You are the Lord of my heart. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Dear Friends, thank Your for covering my family and ministry and our team in prayer on our ministry trip to Estonia these past ten days. The people were wonderful and we believe the Lord used us as His vessels to minister His encouragement and love to His people in many ways. We saw spiritual, emotional, and physical healing, and the strengthening and cleansing of the laborers for His great harvest to come. Thank you for being with us in the ministry of prayer. Thank you for all the ways you encourage us and support us to make this ministry possible. May You receive a hundred-fold and more of the blessings the Lord poured into us and through us in this time of ministry to others. God bless you! To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God " 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

"Go Through the Gates" 8-29-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Arise in my heart and shine through my life today. ... "Go through, go through the gates, prepare the way for the people; build up, build up the highway, clear it of stones, lift up an ensign over the peoples" (Isaiah 62:10). Yesterday we stood at the disputed border between Estonia and Russia. We prayed for the cleansing of the land from any defiling sins of the past. We prayed that the gates of unrighteousness would come down that You would establish Your gates of righteousness in this place. We prayed the gospel of Your kingdom would go forth and Your missionaries of Your good news would go forth through these gates. In Your power and according to Your promises, the gates of hell will not prevail against Your church. And as we go through the gates You open, proclaim the words You speak through us, and minister the power of Your love You release through us, we prepare the way for the people to receive You as Lord. Here and throughout all the earth, open wide the gates for the gospel of the kingdom of God to go forth. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God " 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Extravagant Grace 8-28-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Lord of the heavens, Lord of the earth, be Lord of my life today. ... "Then you shall again obey the Lord, observing all His commandments that I am commanding you today, and the Lord your God will make you abundantly prosperous in all your undertakings, in the fruit of your body, in the fruit of your livestock, and in the fruit of your soil. For the Lord will again take delight in prospering you, just as He delighted in prospering your ancestors, when you obey the Lord your God by observing His commandments and decrees that are written in the book of the law, because you turn to the Lord your God will all your heart and with all your soul" (Deuteronomy 30:8-10). What amazing things we saw yesterday in ministering to Your people of this land. At the morning prayer meeting, a woman's mourning was turned to laughter, a man's hearing began to be restored, a woman's daughter continued to be set free at deeper levels to be restored in her mind, a marriage began to be reconciled. And You will be faithful to bring to completion all you have begun (Philippians 1:6). As we turn to You, You are eager to answer our prayers and delight in prospering Your people with Your grace and power and presence. Even in the asking and the persevering when the answers seem slow, You bless us with the relationship You form through the intimacy of prayer. But I was astounded at Your extravagant grace for a single mother Methodist pastor. She was living in an apartment with her children in a noisy part of town with many bad influences. It was the cry of her heart to have a place of peace to raise her family and serve her church. At the same time, You were moving on the heart of another one of Your servants. She was a woman from Estonia now living in Canada. Their family's farm house was taken by the communists in the Soviet occupation and destroyed. The freed government of Estonia gave her a replacement farmhouse, that's not really used much now that she no longer lives here. She knew of the pastor's needs through the Baptist pastor and his wife from their weekly interdenominational prayer meeting to pray for their city. We were so honored to be asked to come and pray a blessing upon this house if some arrangement were worked out as these ladies met yesterday at the farm. We were astonished as the woman chose to completely give the house and farm to this pastor and her family. Praise You, Lord! Both were thrilled and so were we! You delight in prospering Your people with the extravagance of Your grace. And we delight in praising You for Your Father's heart for Your children. What a blessing we prayed and what a blessing we received. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God " 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Thank You, Lord 8-27-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Open the eyes of my heart, Lord. I want to see You. Open the ears of my spirit, I want to hear You. ... "On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached Him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, 'Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!' When He saw them, He said to them, 'Go and show yourselves to the priests.' And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus' feet and thanked Him. And he was a Samaritan" (Luke 17:11-16). Thank You, Lord Jesus. You are the Healer. You are the Lord who heals us (Exodus 15:26). You are the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). You are still binding up the broken-hearted and setting the captives free, as You proclaim the coming of the kingdom of God and demonstrate it through Your power (Luke 4:18). Thank You for the gift of using Your people as Your vessels to be instruments of Your healing power through prayer (1 Corinthians 12:4-11). Yesterday, I had the joy of sharing Your gospel and ministering Your healing love to the Estonian people in two churches at Varoos and Vitka, just miles away from Latvia and Russia in the southeastern-most region of this nation. What tears of joy I had when a couple came up for prayer and the husband said, "I wanted to personally thank you for praying for my wife when she had her terrible car accident last year." She was crying and smiling and said she was doing very well now. Pastor Kaupo Kant from this community had been in America last year and we were having a time of prayer together at Bob and Doris McCray's house. This accident had just happened and we went to You in prayer for this lady and her family at our breakfast table. And here she was, healed and whole, praising You, as we thanked You together. In the mystery of faith, our prayers are not limited by time or space, and neither are Your answers through the power of Your love. Thank You, Lord! In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Thank you for all your prayers for us, my friends. Doris, Bob, and I will be ministering at a men's retreat and women's retreat today, as well as joining in a prayer meeting and other opportunities of ministry. We saw the tops of the trees across the border into Russia yesterday and this seems like such a spiritually strategic region. God bless you! To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God " 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

The Light of Your Glory 8-26-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Fill my heart with Your Holy Spirit, guide my thoughts with Your words, lead me in Your paths. ... "May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from His glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light" (Colossians 2:11-12). Yesterday in the "prayer tent" at our campground, an elderly Russian-speaking woman asked me to pray a blessing for her life. As we prayed she began to smile. The more I prayed the more she smiled. She suddenly opened her eyes and lifted her hands up to the center of the tent. She said, "The light! The light! I see so much light!" Praise You, Lord. You are the Light. You are our Inheritance. Thank You for letting me share with this saint of God in her experience with You of receiving a deep measure the joy of her inheritance in the Light. Continue opening the eyes of all the hearts of all Your saints -- all the children of God -- to experience Your glorious power and walk in Your glorious light. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God " 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

One Spirit, Many Languages 8-25-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I love You and seek You and serve You. ... "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to then one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all" (Ephesians 4:4-6). We have gathered at a retreat center on the shores of the Baltic Sea from churches across the country of Estonia. People are hungry to hear from You. They want to hear Your voice and sense Your leading in their lives. And through the prayers and messages, through visions and prophetic words, You are speaking to us in many ways. Even as all the words are being spoken and translated into the Estonian, Russian, and English languages, You are speaking by Your One Spirit in many ways. Open our hears to hear what Your Spirit it saying to each of us, personally and as the one body of Your church bound together by one faith in You. As we hear, let us be encouraged and let us faithful. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God " 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Tent of Meeting 8-24-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I hear Your calling to come and spend our time together in the communion of prayer -- Father and Son, abiding in me by Your Holy Spirit. Help me look and seeing what You're doing; help me listen and hear what You're saying. Then help me obey, so I can join in what You are doing and desire to do through me this day. ... "Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far off from the camp; he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought the Lord would go out to the tent of meeting, which was outside the camp" (Exodus 33:7). We're here at Camp Gideon now on Estonia's northeastern coast of the Baltic Sea, not too far from the Russian border. This land was once occupied by the Red Army under the Soviet communist occupation forces, where young people were once indoctrinated in atheism. Now young people come here to learn the love of God and the ways of Jesus. Once this land was occupied by Nazi troops under the German occupation of World War II. Now a German couple have traveled here to this camp to set up a huge tent, without cost, for the preaching of the Word of God and where we will minister freedom to the captives and healing to broken. My, how You love to redeem the land and cause the earth to manifest what You have done in the heavens. This tent is our "tent of meeting." It's filled with pastors and people of their churches from all regions of this nation of Estonia. We are hungry for You, seeking Your presence, and welcoming Your power to change our lives and welcoming Your Spirit to move us in prayer for release of revival in this land. Let Your "pillar of cloud" descend, let the glory of Your manifest presence come down (v. 33:9). We want to see You "face to face," and grow in the gift of hearing Your voice "as one speaks to a friend" (v. 33:11). We want to experience this for ourselves and we want to prepare the way for the next generation who will see You and hear You, ever more clearly with each generation of Joshuas who grow nearer to You (v. 33:11). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God " 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

"A Precious Stone" 8-23-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Let me hear Your voice, so I can speak Your word. ... "To you then who believe, He is precious; but for those who do not believe, 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the very head of the corner,' and 'A stone that makes them stumble, and a rock that makes them fall' " (1 Peter 2:7-8). You've sent me to Estonia to speak Your words of life and encouragement to the pastors and people of this land who have endured centuries of oppression, yet the spirit of the faithful remnant remains strong and alive. I've been hearing stories about the four Methodist ministers who were martyred for their faith, defiantly refusing to renounce it in the face of communist tyranny. But their blood cries out from this land, and the seeds of their lives sown in faith will yet yield a great harvest of souls (Revelation 6:9-10). Nations will stumble and kingdoms will fall, but the Stone rejected -- "this Jesus" -- "has become the Cornerstone" (Acts 4:11). It seems I hear You say, "Estonia is to Me a precious stone." You are flooding my mind with Scriptures of stones -- with messages to encourage the people of Estonia -- "es - stone -- ia." As they arise into newness of life in their calling and destiny as a people of God, they are "living stones" being built up into Your spiritual house (1 Peter 2:4-10). Though they are small in numbers, they are as one of David's "five smooth stones" gathered on his way to battle the oppression of the people of God, striking the head of the enemy that the people might be set free from the threat of tyranny and the taunting of their God (1 Samuel 17:40-49). As the stone is rolled away from the tomb of their past and the bondage of death to their destiny, they are as Lazarus coming forth in response to Your call (John 11:39). They are as the "white stone" given to those who overcome and hear their new name to walk in their God-given identity and calling (Revelation 2:17). They will be as the stones crying out in praise of Your name (Luke 19:40). You are removing their "heart of stone," and giving them a "heart of flesh" with a "new spirit," refreshed, renewed, and empowered by Your Holy Spirit to be Your holy people to live out their destiny for Your glory (Ezekiel 36:26). I see with the eyes of my heart for this people two visions from a world map of this region of the earth. In one, I see their nation as a cornerstone, positioned at the northwest corner of Russia and all Asia. In the other, I see their nation as a cornerstone positioned at the northeast corner of Europe. Now I see the nation of Estonia in the center of an arch, like a keystone, between Europe and Asia at the top center of a gothic arch over the top of this eastern side of the earth. Yes, Lord. Use this tiny nation to be a cornerstone and a keystone -- strategically positioned -- to birth a revival in the harvest to come. Though there are now few believers of Christ in this nation, You love to use the "weakest" and "least" for Your glory, as in the days of Gideon (Judges 6:15). Yes, Lord. The seeds of the martyrs will reap a harvest -- "a hundredfold" of all they have suffered and all they have lost (Mark 10:28-30). Though it may seem now they are last and left behind, "many who are first will be last, and the last will be first" (v. 10:31). I am honored to join my heart with theirs as You fill my spirit with Yours to speak Your words of truth and life, encouragement and exhortation (1 Corinthians 14:3). All that is of You will come to pass in Your timing and Your way for Your glory (Isaiah 55:11). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

"What Pleases Him" 8-22-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our God. Come rule and reign this day in the kingdom of my heart. ... "Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God; and we receive from Him whatever we ask, because we obey His commandments and do what pleases Him" (1 John 3:21-22). What pleases You, Lord? ... It seems I hear You say, "You please Me. You please Me when You seek Me with all your heart -- not holding back, not looking back." But what about my sins and failures and ways I've disappointed You and others? "You please when You seek Me with all your heart -- not holding back, not looking back. As You look to Me, you become who I created you to be." Yes, Lord. Remind to always find myself in You -- in Your eyes alone. In You, I am forgiven of my sins, I am learning from my mistakes, I am pressing in and moving on with You -- which never disappoints You, but only delights You. You love me as I am, but never leave me as I am -- constantly changing me into Your image, from glory to glory, as I seek You and worship You, wanting to become more like You (2 Corinthians 3:18). Thank You, Daddy Abba, my Father God. Thank You, Lord Jesus, my Savior and King. Thank You, Holy Spirit, the Living Presence of the Living God living in me. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God " 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Continual Intercession 8-21-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Wherever I go, there You are. Wherever I go, here You are in me by Your Holy Spirit. ... "Immediately aware that power had gone forth from Him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, 'Who touched My clothes?' ... He looked all around to see who had done it" (Mark 5:30-32). Going through airports, surrounded by people, I know You go with me and You go within me wherever I go (John 14:20). As I go, let my eyes be attentive and my heart be aware of the people I pass along the way. Stretch out Your hand, send forth Your Word, release Your power to touch them, encourage them, convict them, and heal them as each has need. Give me a heart of continual intercession, as You continually live in me -- always living to intercede for the souls and needs of the people You died to save (Hebrews 7:25). Then even layovers and weather delays become opportunities for ministry and the advance of Your kingdom. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, thank you for joining with me in ministry on this trip to the Baltic Republic of Estonia. We've had some weather delays and it looks like we'll be stopping over in Denmark instead of Sweden, but will be praying for the people all along the way. Your prayers, encouragement, and support make all this possible. God bless you! To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God " 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

"Go Into All the World" 8-20-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me hear Your heart. Bring mine into align with Yours. ... "And He said to them, 'Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation' " (Mark 16:15). Today I'll be going into a part of the world where I've never been before, to the nation of Estonia, on the northwestern border of Russia. We'll also stop in Sweden for a moment and cross over the lands and people of many other nations along the way. Everywhere I go -- through the skies and upon the land -- the light of the glory of Your gospel goes with me, because You are within me. Everywhere I go, the kingdom of heaven is at hand because the God of heaven and earth is living in me. I go as an ambassador of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). I go as one sent to proclaim the good news of Your kingdom, to bind up the broken-hearted and to set the captives free, all in Your power and all as You lead for Your glory (Isaiah 61:1-4). I go in desperate dependence upon You, because apart from You, I can do nothing (John 15:5). So lead me to the places and people where I am to give and where I am to receive. Put Your words in my mouth, Your prayers on my lips, Your love in my heart. Let Your light shine through my life, as a son of Your light (1 Thessalonians 5:5). Let Your signs follow me, as one who believes (Mark 16:16-18). Use this experience to change lives; use this experience to change my life. I wouldn't go if Your weren't sending me, and I wouldn't go if You weren't going with me. I praise You, Lord God Almighty, that You are. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I'm not sure how much access I will have to the internet, but I'll plan to send out my devotional as I am able and I thank you for your prayers. We will be ministering in Estonia in the capital city of Tallinn, at a ministers' retreat at Camp Gideon, and other places of Divine encounters along the way. Bob and Doris McCray, will join with me August 20th through 30th. Please keep us and our families and all the lives the Lord will touch in prayer. Here's a couple of links to know more: http://www.bmk.ee/indexenglish.html and http://gbgm-umc.org/europe/estonia/ God bless you and thank you so much for joining with us in ministry! To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God " 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Blessing of Kindness 8-19-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Spring up, O well of the waters of life. Fill me afresh with Your Holy Spirit as You awaken me to Your will for me today. ... "Thus says the Lord of hosts: Render true judgments, show mercy and kindness to one another" (Zechariah 7:9). As we moved Elizabeth into her new home in the dorm of her university yesterday, Your favor and grace was upon us all day. Strangers volunteered helpful information, security guards guided us with courtesy, the morning was surprisingly cool. Somehow we arrived at a time when the lines were short and even parked right in front of the door to unload all her worldly possessions to sustain her new life for the next four (or so) years. But as we began to unload, we were surrounded by a team of Christians from a local Baptist church who welcomed us and helped us gather all her belongings and move them into her room, with overflowing kindness and hospitality. They were witnesses of the gospel without words to us and all the families taking these first steps of a new season. They made it easy to see the Spirit of Your presence is everywhere You have Your children ready to love and serve with kindness and joy. Let me pass on the blessing of kindness in the opportunities You bring to me today. Let me share Your gospel, with words and without, in the ways You lead. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God " 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Strength, Wisdom, and Favor 8-18-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Live Your life through my life today. ... "The Child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon Him" (Luke 2:40). As my oldest daughter Elizabeth moves into her dorm at college today, I feel many emotions. But above all, I entrust her into Your care. Many years ago Your Holy Spirit led me to craft a simple prayer to teach my children to pray as they began their day: "Lord Jesus, make me more like You each day." It was to be simple, personal, and powerful. I pray for them and all of their generation and the ones to follow. My they grew in Your grace, depend upon Your strength, be filled with Your wisdom, and be blessed by Your favor. May they know You personally in every dimension of Your Being -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- as they surrender and entrust to You every dimension of their being -- spirit, soul, and body (1 Thessalonians 5:23). May they become more like You each day because they turn to You each day to welcome Your Spirit into their spirits, Your thoughts into their thoughts, and Your desires into their desires. Let Your kingdom come and Your will be done in and through their lives, as You make them more like You each day. And may this be my prayer each day as well. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God " 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Destruction of Divided Hearts 8-17-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. In You all things have become new. I start this new day with a clean slate and a fresh start. I start it with You. ... "So these nations worshipped the Lord, but also served their carved images; to this day their children and their children's children continue to do as their ancestors did" (2 Kings 17:41). The people who came to live in the land of Samaria learned about You and Your nature and Your law. They learned to worship You as "the God of the land," but at the same time, they continued to worship gods of their own -- the false gods carved by their own hands and made in their own image (v. 17:27-34). But You do not share Your glory with any god; You will have no other gods before You. You are not one God among many, content to be included as an option of worship. And their sin of idolatry defiled the land and defiled their souls in their generation and the generations to come. Their idolatry and blasphemy, compromise and spiritual adultery brought their lives out from under Your hand of protection and opened themselves and their children to destruction (v. 17:25-26). You love us and Your created us for a relationship with You alone. You are jealous for our love and devotion, never willing to tolerate compromise or complacency in our dedication to You. All roads do not lead to heaven. All worship is not acceptable worship. What husband would tolerate a divided heart from his wife who loved him but also loved others? What covenant is honored by compromise? Love demands loyalty. And loyalty is an undivided heart. We may not bow down to carved images of wood and stone or burn our children in the fire to false gods as in the land of Samaria (v. 17:29-32). But we often allow our hearts to be divided; we allow other things to take Your place as the priority in our lives; we compromise with the cultures around us and subtly make room for both the material and spiritual gods that gain control and power to influence, if not dominate, our lives. And it breaks Your heart as we open up our lives and our land to destruction -- not only for our generation, but also for those to come. Forgive us, Lord. Deliver us from divided hearts and the destruction it brings. Cleanse our hearts from idolatry and adultery, from compromise and complacency. Draw our hearts to worship You and You alone. You are the road to heaven; You are the road of heaven to us. You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God " 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Camp Gideon 8-16-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I worship You as Lord, I serve You as King, I know You as Friend. ... "And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets -- who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight" (Hebrews 11:32-34). Next week our team will travel to the Baltic Republic of Estonia, one of the small nations formerly held captive behind the iron curtain of communism in the former Soviet Union. A few years ago the persevering people of this nation defied their oppressors and declared their independence as a sovereign nation and free people once again. During the Soviet era, most of the Church was forced underground in the forced denial of God. But now every year the pastors and leaders of the Methodist Church of Estonia gather for a time of renewal, inspiration, and equipping to openly and boldly praise Your name and declare their faith. I'm so honored and excited to be invited to come preach and minister on prayer, healing, and spiritual warfare with them and their families. We will gather at the Methodist retreat center now called "Camp Gideon." Under the communist occupation, which followed the Nazi occupation, this was where the Soviet soldiers brought the nations' youth to be indoctrinated in communism, to deny their independence, and to renounce their faith. Today, You are the One who is conforming their hearts, renewing their minds, and transforming their lives in the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Today the youth of this nation freely and willingly "present (their) bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God" in open worship (Romans 12:1-2). Here, You raise up the Gideons from their threshing floors and hiding place to take a stand and go to war in the Spirit against the oppressing forces of spiritual darkness as mighty warriors in the kingdom of God (Judges 6:11-14). No doubt I will be inspired more than I can inspire by the tenacity and perseverance of faith in the heart of this people who endured persecution and peril to see the Word of God and the name of Jesus exalted again throughout this land. Thank You, Lord, for moving on their hearts to call me to come and moving in my heart as You send me to go -- both to give and to receive. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, we will be ministering in Estonia in the capital city of Tallinn, at Camp Gideon, and other places of Divine encounters along the way. Bob and Doris McCray, and possibly Meme McNairy, will join with me August 20th through 30th. Please keep us and our families and all the lives the Lord will touch in this generation and those to come in prayer. Here's a couple of links to know more: http://www.bmk.ee/indexenglish.html and http://gbgm-umc.org/europe/estonia/ God bless you and thank you so much for joining with us in ministry! To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God " 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Embrace and Engage 8-15-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Open my eyes to see and my ears to hear in the spiritual realm of Your manifest presence in prayer. ... "So those who were engaged in the work labored, and the repairing of the work went forward at their hands, and they restored the house of God to its proper condition and strengthened it" (2 Chronicles 24:13). It seems I hear You say, "Embrace and engage." And these thoughts rise up in my mind from the depths of my human spirit now in the communion of prayer with Your Holy Spirit: "Embrace Me first, then engage your day. Too many engage themselves into the works of their day without first embracing Me." Yes, Lord. Draw me to You in the first moments of every morning. Draw me to You to seek Your counsel before making my decisions. Draw me to You in the silence of surrender before I begin to speak and say or even pray. Then like the cogs of a wheel of a well-oiled machine, I can be about my Father's business instead of my own business, submitted to Your plans and purposes rather than my own. My thoughts and desires will be oiled in the embrace of Your Spirit so You can engage the gears of my gifts with the gifts of others to accomplish Your will through our lives. Forgive me for the times I have engaged first, and then embraced -- or never took the time to embrace You at all. Before every battle of the armies of Israel, they were to first hear from You through Your priest before engaging their enemies in battle. "Before you engage in battle, the priest shall come forward and speak to the troops" (Deuteronomy 20:2). Now under the new covenant fulfilled in Christ, You are my High Priest (Hebrews 5:5-10). As I embrace You, I embrace the Word and will of God, entrusting my life and the works and battles of my day into Your hands so I can engage in the ministries of Your heart. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God " 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

As They Grow and Go 8-14-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. All authority in heaven and earth belongs to You. I entrust all authority of my life to You to this day. ... "Even children make themselves known by their acts, by whether what they do is pure and right" (Proverbs 20:9). This is a big week for our family. My eighteen year old daughter Elizabeth goes off to college and my five year old son Elijah goes off to kindergarten. You have sown Your Word into their minds and poured Your Spirit into their hearts. As best as we could and all by Your grace, we have tried to raise them up in the way they should go so that they will not depart from Your path in the choices they make and the lives they live (v. 22:6). In the broader perspective, neither is all that old, but they both think they are. And, in any event, they are both old enough to take another step of independence from us and dependence on You -- steps in the journey of maturity into Christ-likeness they will continue for the rest of their lives. Give us grace to entrust them to You. Forgive us for our sins in the ways we have not fully represented Your heart and nature along the way. Fill up by Your Spirit where we have fallen short. Guide them in the ways that will lead them to be known as children of God by their acts. Let their acts be a reflection of what You've poured into their hearts (Matthew 15:18-19). Make them sensitive the leading of Your Spirit and the nearness of Your presence, both when they long to be drawn near to You or when they may be tempted to be drawn away. Thank You for the angels You send to watch their steps and clear their paths (Matthew 18:10; Hebrews 1:14). Thank You for the peace and joy of seeing them grow and now seeing them go, in these next big steps of their journey with You. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I thank you for all your prayers for our family -- Tommy, Tricia, Elizabeth, Zachary, Madison, Elijah, and Josiah. And I join my heart with yours in prayer for your family as well. God bless you! To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God " 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

"Above All ... Love" 8-13-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Consume me. ... "Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony" (Colossians 3:14). "Above all" is a strong command of priority. Your Word doesn't say "above all, clothe yourselves with forgiveness," or "good deeds," or "a servant's heart," or any other of the many significant and necessary attributes of Christ-likeness. In fact, the verses just before this command list many of those godly attributes You call us to live out, saying, "clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience" (v 3:12). But love is the priority "above all." Just the other day, I was thinking that my morning prayers are filled with too many thoughts and words about love. I was thinking it doesn't seem manly enough or strong enough, that maybe I only need to write and pray about the cross, and the blood, and the power of God. But You quickly broke through these thoughts from Satan. I am not to try to create You in my own image or clothe myself with any image I feel more comfortable in projecting to You in my prayers and to others who read them. You are who You are. And You are Love (1 John 4:8). If I am to be clothed with Christ and allow You to conform me to Christ-likeness -- the purpose of my existence for these moments on earth -- then I will embrace and exude Your love and Your loving nature more and more every day. After all, Your love is the very source of everything else, including the cross, the blood, and the power of God. So if I am filled with Your Spirit, as I pray every day, I must be filled with Your love. My words, my prayers, my actions, my life will manifest the Spirit of the One I worship and welcome to have priority in my life. So, this day and every day, I choose by Your grace to clothe myself with Your love -- unashamed, unafraid, unrestrained. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God " 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Spiritual Kingdom 8-12-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Awaken my soul to seek You and find You in the intimacy of prayer. ... "Jesus answered, 'Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of flesh is flesh and what is born of Spirit is spirit" (John 3:5-6). Last night we watched a movie with the kids about two friends who crossed over a creek and went into the woods to play after school every day. The woods across the water became their kingdom when they "looked hard" with their eyes to see with their imagination. Our journey with You is kind of like that, only the kingdom we seek to see with the eyes of our heart is real, not our imagination, but we have to look hard to see beyond the kingdom of the natural realm into the kingdom of the heavenly realm. We have to cross over through the water of baptism and welcome the presence of Your Spirit in the spiritual communion of worship and prayer. "God is Spirit, and those worship Him must worship Him in spirit and truth" (John 4:24). The kingdom of heaven is a spiritual kingdom. You are the King of kings and Lord of lords; You are the King of this kingdom of spiritual reality beyond our natural senses, "the image of the invisible God" (Colossians 1:15). As I watch and wait for Your leading each day in the communion of prayer, You draw me in to the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of heaven is drawn into me. As You open the eyes of my heart to see You and worship You in spirit and truth, I become more aware of the spiritual reality of Your kingdom and Your spiritual kingdom becomes more real in me (Ephesians 1:17-19). I cross over into the spiritual place You have prepared for me, as You come and take me there as You promised, "I will come again and take you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also" (John 14:3). Here in the reality of Your spiritual kingdom, my "life is hidden with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:3). Here I fixed the eyes of my heart on "things that are above, not on things that are on earth;" here, I "seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God" (v. 3:1-2). In this spiritual kingdom, "we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:18). Lord, help me keep looking and keep living more and more in the eternal reality of Your spiritual kingdom, allowing the reality of Your spiritual kingdom to live more and more in me each day. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God " 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

"Shocking and Amazing" Worship 8-11-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I call on Your name and I seek Your face. ... "The Lord said: Because these people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, while their hearts are far from Me, and their worship of Me is a human commandment learned by rote; so I will again do amazing things with this people, shocking and amazing. The wisdom of their wise shall perish, and the discernment of the discerning shall be hidden" (Isaiah 29:13-14). In the sin of shallow worship, we say the right words and do the right things, but it's only on the surface and not from the depths of our hearts. Someone says "stand," "kneel," "pray," "sing," and we do. Even in more "free" settings, someone says "lift up your hands," "lift up your voices," "give a shout to the Lord," and we do. In whatever form our worship has settled, we are engaged to a degree, we've given ourselves to You in a measure, but do we give to You our hearts unrestrained and unashamed in a passion ablaze with praise and alive with a burning fire of ones who know the extravagance of Your mercy and the Your presence? But in Your mercy and Your desire to awaken us to the worship we were created to experience and express in unveiled intimacy with You, You break through our timidity and complacency to again do shocking and amazing things in our midst. Where we've lost our passion, You want to impassion us again with the power of Your presence. Where our love has grown cold, You want to fire us up with the move of Your Spirit in our midst. Lord, come shock us, come amaze us, come shake us and wake us until we are alive and ablaze with the depth of worship You desire and deserve. Let our honest and genuine, heart-felt response to Your extravagant love and incomprehensible mercy be shocking and amazing worship for You. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God " 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com