Open the Doors of the Temple 11-4-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Open the eyes of my heart; open the ears of my spirit. I want to see what You are doing and hear what You are saying. ... "In the first year of Hezekiah's reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of the Lord and repaired them. He brought in the priests and the Levites ... and said to them, "Listen to me, Levites! Sanctify yourselves, and sanctify the house of the Lord, the God of your ancestors, and carry out the filth from the holy place.... for the Lord has chosen you to stand in His presence to minister to Him, and to be His ministers and make offerings to Him (2 Chronicles 29:3-11). In Christ, under the new covenant, we are all the priests of Your kingdom and our lives are the temple of Your Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:17). "To Him who loves us and freed us from our sins by His blood, and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever" (Revelation 1:6). You call me to come and minister to You in worship and prayer. But first, I must open the doors of the temple of my heart wide to You, to allow You to search me and cleanse me and sanctify me of everything in me that is not yet holy. Then I can stand, unashamed and unrestrained, in Your presence with clean hands and a pure heart, through the grace of the sacrifice of Your blood. And as in the days of the cleansing of the temple in Hezekiah's day, I will rejoice in all that You have done (2 Chronicles 29:36). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, the Holy Spirit is cleansing our hearts and filling our spirits at the iPray Summit I'm leading his weekend at Grace on the Hill United Methodist Church in Corbin, Kentucky (6 pm Sat night; 10:30 Sun morning; 5 pm Sun night) www.graceonthehill.org I pray the same for you and your church! Thank you for covering us in prayer. To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Ministering the Healing Love of God ... Preparing the Way of the Lord." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.orgOrder our Ministry Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

All That I Have 11-3-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I look for Your face and lean in to Your grace. ... I sing to You And I bring to You All that I have All that I am ... I rest in You I am blessed in You All that I have All that I am ... is Yours ... "Moreover, in addition to all that I have provided for the holy house, I have a treasure of my own of gold and silver, and because of my devotion to the house of my God, I give it to the house of my God.... Who then will offer willingly, consecrating themselves today to the Lord?" (1 Chronicles 29:3-5). In building Your temple, David gave You all he had, because all he had was Yours'. His giving inspired others to give (v. 6). And You filled their hearts great joy and praise. "Then the people rejoiced because these had been given willingly, for with single mind they had offered freely to the Lord; King David also rejoiced greatly" (v. 9). Thought they were building a building, You were building a kingdom -- the Kingdom of God in their hearts and their land. "For the temple will not be for mortals but for the Lord God" (from v. 1). You have no need for a building, but You are still building a people whose hearts are wholly devoted to You. Together, throughout all generations, we are Your holy house, God's temple. "For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple" (1 Corinthians 3:17). Lord, come fill Your temple with Your glory today. I offer willingly all that I have and all that I am. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I will be preaching and teaching at the iPray Summit this weekend at Grace on the Hill United Methodist Church in Corbin, Kentucky (6 pm Sat night; 10:30 Sun morning; 5 pm Sun night). Please come join us if you can and pray for us if you can't: www.graceonthehill.org To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Ministering the Healing Love of God ... Preparing the Way of the Lord." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.orgOrder our Ministry Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Prayer Assault 11-2-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I entrust myself and my day to Your leading and Your ways. ... "Then Joshua said, 'Open the mouth of the cave, and bring those five kings out to me from the cave.... Come near; put your feet on the necks of these kings.... Do not be afraid or dismayed; be strong and courageous; for thus the Lord will do to all the enemies against whom you fight' " (Joshua 10:22-25). All that happened in the natural realm of the lives of Your people under the Old Covenant speaks to our lives in the spiritual realm as Your people under the New Covenant (1 Corinthians 10:11; Hebrews 12:24). As they fought their physical battles, so we fight our spiritual ones (Ephesians 6:12). You are the God of peace who makes true peace through Your people -- not by appeasement or passivity -- but by leading us to courageously confront our spiritual enemies in Your strength at Your command. You bring the enemies of our souls out of their hiding places and strongholds, victoriously declaring You will "soon crush Satan under (our) feet" (Romans 16:20). Give me courage to ask what "kings" are ruling as strongmen in the hidden places of my soul and my city (Matthew 12:29). Are they Pride? Fear? Rebellion? Rejection? Shame? Or are they Control? Sickness? Sorrow? Insecurity? Discouragement? Maybe Bitterness? Greed? Jealousy? Anger? Strife? Even Anti-Christ? Religion? Passivity? Compromise? Occult? Bring them out of the darkness and into Your light. Let us bind them up and cast them out (Psalm 149:8). Let us take up the sword of Your Spirit, the weapon of Your Word, and not turn back until they are utterly consumed and destroyed (Joshua 10:26). With the people of faith in the power of prayer and the unity of Your Spirit, lead us to lay siege against the enemies of our souls in a prayer "assault" (v. 31). Let us not be afraid or dismayed, but strong and courageous, to drive out every enemy of Your Lordship -- Your rule and reign -- in our lives and our land. Begin in the caves of my own soul. Deliver me from all that is unholy so You can fill me with the One who is Holy (Matthew 6:13). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I will be preaching and teaching at the iPray Summit this weekend at Grace on the Hill United Methodist Church in Corbin, Kentucky. Please come join us if you can and pray for us if you can't: www.graceonthehill.org To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Ministering the Healing Love of God ... Preparing the Way of the Lord." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Order our Ministry Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

City-Wide Worship, City-Wide War 11-1-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Your name is the name above every name. With these first thoughts of my morning, I call on Your name and seek out Your nature. ... "And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching" (Hebrews 10:24-25). Yesterday we filled the old Kentucky Theater downtown with worship and praise, as we came to meet together as one of the expressions of Your city-wide church in Lexington. We wanted to encourage our good friend and fellow laborer in the Lord, Rob Poindexter, in his ministry of worship to You at the heart of our city. He's been faithfully and fervently leading us in worship under the banner of Your name alone for three years now at Worship on Wednesdays, every noon of every week. We can't all always come, but whether there are handfuls or hundreds to join with Rob in worship of You, he's always there -- singing his heart out and lifting our city up in worship and prayer. As we gathered around him to pray for Rob, his wife Nancy, their family, and their ministry, You showed me the image of Elisha going to the King of Israel, telling him to strike the ground with his arrows. The king only struck the ground three times and Elisha was angry because each strike spoke of another breakthrough in battle against the enemies of the kingdom (2 Kings 13:14-19). In response to Your call and the authority of Your name, Rob's been striking the ground every week for three years. And he's not stopping. Every week, You're breaking through the spiritual strongholds of the enemies of the kingdom of God in our city and our region. As Francis Frangipane says, "It takes a city-wide church to win a city-wide war." Thank You for the way You lead Rob to lead us in this war for the soul of our city every week. Raise up these worshippers and warriors in every city and every region throughout the earth until every stronghold comes down and Your glory covers the earth as the waters cover the sea (Habakkuk 2:14). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, come if you can and pray for us if you can't on November 21 at the noon gathering of Worship on Wednesdays at the Kentucky Theater. Rob Poindexter will be making a live recording of worship from the heart of our city. Directions and Details on WoW and Rob Poindexter Ministries at: www.rpm-wow.org Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's city-wide gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary in Lexington. All who are thirsty are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 Come to The Mountain! on Monday Nights for our ministry's weekly prayer for Israel and the peace of Jerusalem led by Doris and Bob McCray. 7 pm in the upstairs Community Room at First Southern National Bank on Harrodsburg Rd. in Lexington. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Ministering the Healing Love of God ... Preparing the Way of the Lord." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Order our Ministry Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Hallowed 10-31-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Put Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart; conform my will to Your will and my ways to Your ways. Where I am confused, teach me; where I am wrong, correct me. Thank You for taking me as I am, but never leaving me as I am. Help me grow up into maturity, one day at time. ... "For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealously. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires" (Romans 13:11-14). Many in my culture will celebrate this night as Halloween -- some very informally with costumes and candy and some very formally as one of the high "holy" days of their religion. Show me what it means for me to "put on the armor of light," to "lay aside the works of darkness," to "live honorably as in the day" -- this day and every day, this night and every night. Let me not be legalistic, but let me be loyal. Let me not be conformed to this world, but be transformed in Christ. Let me not, necessarily, curse the darkness, but be light in the midst of the darkness. On Halloween or any other day, help me live my life in Your Spirit in a way that says, "Hallowed be Your name" (Matthew 6:9). 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

Abide in the Vine 10-30-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are the Vine; I am a branch. Let the life of Your Spirit flow through me and bear fruit for my Father this day. ... "Abide in Me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in Me" (John 15:4). Lord, what is it to abide in You as a branch abides in the vine? It seems I hear You say, "Draw your life from Me. As You open your human spirit to My Holy Spirit, My Life becomes your life. Then through You, I bear much fruit." Yes, Lord. I open my spirit to Yours. I draw on Your Life to flow through my life. I don't turn to the fruit, I turn to You. And as I turn to You, the fruit of the Vine will come -- all in its proper season, according to Your will, Your time, and Your way. As I turn to You and open the veins of my branch to the flow of Your Vine, I am one with Your Vine, abiding in You as You abide in me. And I find that You have always been turned and open to me, ready to flow in me and through me as much as I am willing to allow. "Turn again, O God of hosts; look down from heaven and see; have regard for this vine, the stock that Your right hand planted .... Then we will never turn back from You; give us Life, and we will call on Your name" (Psalm 80:14-18). 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

Fill My Jar 10-28-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. King of the kingdom of God, King of the kingdom of my heart, I bow before Your majesty and welcome Your intimacy in this morning communion of prayer. ... "Elisha said to her, 'What shall I do for you? Tell me what do you have in the house?' She answered, 'Your servant has nothing in the house, except a jar of oil.' He said, 'Go outside; borrow vessels from all your neighbors, empty vessels and not just a few. Then go in and shut the door behind you and your children, and start pouring into all these vessels; when each is full set it aside.' " (2 Kings 4:1-4). Lord, You give grace to the humble. "Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:3). I give to You my jar of oil. Let it be emptied of everything but You. And come fill me up with the oil of Your Spirit. Use me to bring others, emptied of themselves, so they can be filled with You (v. 3). Let me never grow satisfied of seeing Your Spirit fill our lives and overflow into the lives of others (v. 6). Keep reminding me of my emptiness apart from You; keep making me hungry and thirst for more of You. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled" (Matthew 5:6). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, thank you for praying for our men's retreat at Camp Loucon this weekend. It was awesome! We were as "David's mighty men" seeking the Lord, being renewed and prepared for battle. I'll be preaching at First Methodist this morning and CrossRoads Community this evening in Madisonville, KY and would appreciate your prayers. I pray for the Lord's presence and power in your churches and hearts 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

No Other God 10-26-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I speak out Your name and seek out Your face. ... "There is no other god besides Me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is no one besides Me. Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, there is no other. By Myself I have sworn, from my mouth has gone forth in righteousness a word that shall not return: 'To Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear' " (Isaiah 45:21-23). Remove from me all things I'm tempted to turn to besides You for peace or protection or provision or pleasure or power. There is no god but You. You are the Source of all I need and desire. Everything else is an idol that only leads me astray and out of Your way (v. 20). All that I receive that I really need is from You alone, no matter the means You choose to use to release it to me. So I turn to You. I bow my knees and confess with my mouth that You alone are Lord; You alone are my Lord, God, and Savior (Philippians 2:9-11). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I'll be leading a men's retreat this weekend at Camp Loucon in western Kentucky then preaching at two churches in Madisonville on Sunday. Please keep us in your prayer to experience God and have some fun together. I'm thrilled to have just been invited by Aldersgate Renewal Ministries to be the Pre-Conference Keynote Speaker at their National Conference on the Holy Spirit next summer! The conference theme will be "Going Deeper -- Re-dig the Ancient Wells" in Columbus, Ohio July 2-6, 2008. Please get registered, come join us, and spread the word! http://www.aldersgaterenewal.org To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Ministering the Healing Love of God ... Preparing the Way of the Lord." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Battle Banner 10-25-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I look up high to the One who is King and Lord over all that may come this day. ... "You have set up a banner for those who fear You, to rally to it out of bowshot. Give victory with Your right hand, and answer us, so that those whom You love may be rescued" (Psalm 60:4-5). Let the banner of Your cross be raised high and holy over every battle I fight today -- the battle for my soul and for the souls of others. As I look to You and trust in You, no weapon formed against me will prosper, every voice of accusation, condemnation, and judgment will be silenced (Isaiah 54:17). Stretch out Your mighty right hand -- Your mighty nail-scarred hand, eternally scarred with unfailing love for me. There is no battle I will face that You have not already overcome. "Now I know that the Lord will help His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven with mighty victories by His right hand" (Psalm 20:6). Praise You, Lord Jesus! What a way to start the day! In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I'm really excited to have just been invited by Aldersgate Renewal Ministries to be the Pre-Conference Keynote Speaker at their National Conference on the Holy Spirit next summer! The conference theme will be "Going Deeper -- Re-dig the Ancient Wells" in Columbus, Ohio July 2-6, 2008. Please get registered, come join us, and spread the word! http://www.aldersgaterenewal.org/ Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. Ghuna Kumar, a friend and apostle from southern India will be ministering to us in November. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 Come to The Mountain! on Monday Nights for our ministry's weekly prayer for the peace of Jerusalem led by Doris and Bob McCray. 7 pm in the upstairs Community Room at First Southern National Bank on Harrodsburg Rd. in Lexington. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Ministering the Healing Love of God ... Preparing the Way of the Lord." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 http://www.messiah-ministries.org/ Daily Archives: http://www.morningbymorning.injesus.com/

"Prepare the Way" 10-24-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I seek nothing but You in these moments. ... "It shall be said, 'Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove every obstruction from My people's way' " (Isaiah 57:14). Lord, remove from me everything that would hinder Your Spirit from filling me and flowing through me. Remove the stones of pride and self-centeredness. Dig up any roots of resentment and bitterness. Pull down any walls of fear and isolation. Break through every stronghold of confusion and deception. Fill up every pit of depression and discouragement. Close the doors that lead me astray and open the gates that lead in Your way. "For thus says the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with those who are humble and contrite in spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite" (v. 15). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, let's join our hearts to pray for the people of California whose lives' are being devastated by the wild fires. May the love of God be witnessed in His people through this crises and many turn to Him. 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

Let it Rain 10-23-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are my Trusted Friend and my Faithful God. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- You are One and You holy and You are good. ... "Rain in abundance, O God, You showered abroad; You restored Your heritage when it languished; Your flock found a dwelling in it; in Your goodness, O God, You provided for the needy" (Psalm 68:9-10). It's still raining on our dry and thirsty land this morning. Thank You, Lord, for the mercy of Your restoration. And I pray for those who are still dry, in their land and in their souls. Open the windows of heaven; let it rain (Malachi 3:10). Let the drought draw us in desperation to seek You alone as our Answer. "Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters ... Seek the Lord while He may be found ... let them return to the Lord, that He may have mercy on them ... for the rain and snow come down from heaven ...." (Isaiah 55:1-10). Our climate may be out of control, but You are not. And You use all things, all the circumstances of our lives -- even the seasons of sorrow, the consequences of sin, and the attacks of Satan -- to draw us near to You. You love us that much, never leaving us, never forsaking us, always seeking after us. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays www.messiah-ministries.org 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

Always Thirsty, Always Filled 10-22-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I settle down in my soul and enter in to the flow of Your Spirit. ... " 'Let anyone who is thirsty come to Me, and let the one who believes in Me drink. As the Scripture has said, 'Out of the believer's heart shall flow rivers of living water.' Now He said this about the Spirit, which believers in Him were to receive" (from John 7:37-39). It is a simple spiritual principle that you cannot give away what you do not have. If the living water of Your Holy Spirit it flow out of me each day, I have to be continually renewed and refreshed from the fountain of life in You. Then I can pour out without fear of being drained dry. You are the Source that never runs dry, the Head Waters that continually flow. So make me always thirsty and always filled, so You can always flow through me. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays www.messiah-ministries.org Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. Next Month, my friend Ghuna Kumar from India will minister to us. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 Come to The Mountain! on Monday Nights for our ministry's weekly prayer for the peace of Jerusalem led by Doris and Bob McCray. 7 pm in the upstairs Community Room at First Southern National Bank on Harrodsburg Rd. in Lexington. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Ministering the Healing Love of God ... Preparing the Way of the Lord." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Wells of Living Water 10-20-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are good and holy and true. Lord, I love You and trust You as I begin this day with You. ... "A garden locked is my sister, my bride, a garden locked, a fountain sealed.... a garden fountain, a well of living water, and flowing streams from Lebanon" (Song of Solomon 4:12-15). You sent my friend Heather Butler to minister to us at The Fountain last night. You commissioned her to start "the healing rooms" in Wales and gifted her to sing the songs of Your Spirit over Your people and over Your land wherever You send her. Though they had never met before, last night You wove together Your music through Phil Jackson and Your song through Heather to release the fountain of our spirits and open the well of our hearts. As we came together as part of Your city-wide church in our community from many different streams of Your River of Life, You touched us and awakened us, stirring up within us the flowing streams of Your Living Water. She joined her voice with voices of some You've sent to us to speak of the great awakening to come from this land and our hearts in Kentucky. She spoke of the wells of revival You have dug in our midst, that have been tapped before, but will come together in an overflowing stream. Your Living Water will bring life to all it touches (Ezekiel 47:9). As in the days of Moses, we hear You speaking to us, " 'Gather the people together, and I will give them water.' Then Israel sang this song, 'Spring up, O well! -- Sing to it! -- the well that the leaders sank, that the nobles of the people dug, with the scepter, with the staff' "(Numbers 21:16-18). There is much for us to hear and ponder and pray. "It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out" (Proverbs 25:2). But by Your grace, we will keep persisting in the pursuit of revival, keep singing to wells of Your Spirit, keep drinking deeply of Your Living Waters, and keep preparing the way for the mighty flow of Your River of Life in our hearts and throughout our land. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays www.messiah-ministries.org Friends, I pray for revival in Your land and ours, as God awakens our spirits to transform our communities and cover the earth with His glory as the waters cover the sea! Please keep our ministry in prayer to keep bringing together the city-wide church in our region. If you can, come join us at The Fountain next month when my good friend Ghuna Kumar from India will come minister to us. God bless you! Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 Come to The Mountain! on Monday Nights for our ministry's weekly prayer for the peace of Jerusalem led by Doris and Bob McCray. 7 pm in the upstairs Community Room at First Southern National Bank on Harrodsburg Rd. in Lexington. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Ministering the Healing Love of God ... Preparing the Way of the Lord." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Never Let Go 10-19-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are the King of kings, the Lord of lords, my King and my Lord. Rule and reign in my heart and my life today. ... "Do not be too righteous, and do not act too wise; why should you destroy yourself? Do not be too wicked, and do not be a fool; why should you die before your time? It is good that you should take hold of the one, without letting go of the other; for the one who fears God shall succeed at both" (Ecclesiastes 7:16-18). Lord, teach me and empower me to live in both Your righteousness and Your wisdom -- not my own, and not one without the other. Fools die young. The self-righteous are sickening hypocrites. And those who think they have it all figured out and under control never do. You are on Your throne and You have created this world to align with Your wisdom, Your will, and Your ways when we humble ourselves to turn to You and trust You. Then, even when the wicked seem to prevail and truth is trampled in the streets, even when I'm tempted to let go of the One Thing I never can, You use even that to cause me to succeed in Your plan to conform my character to Yours'. You redeem and realign all things through faith and repentance. Help me keeping taking hold of You and never letting go. By Your grace, I will never let go of You. And by Your love, You will never let go of me. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays http://www.messiah-ministries.org/ Heather Butler from the Healing Rooms in Wales will be ministering to us and Phil Jackson will be leading us in worship at The Fountain Tonight at 7 pm. Come join us if you can and spread the word! Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 Come to The Mountain! on Monday Nights for our ministry's weekly prayer for the peace of Jerusalem led by Doris and Bob McCray. 7 pm in the upstairs Community Room at First Southern National Bank on Harrodsburg Rd. in Lexington. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 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 http://www.messiah-ministries.org/ Daily Archives: http://www.morningbymorning.injesus.com/

Blessed Beyond Belief 10-18-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Align my heart and mind with Yours. ... "May our sons in their youth be like plants full grown, our daughters like corner pillars, cut for the building of a palace. May our barns be filled, with produce of every kind; may our sheep increase by thousands, by tens of thousands in our fields, and may our cattle be heavy with young. May there be no breach in the walls, no exile, and no cry of distress in our streets. Happy are the people to whom such blessings fall; happy are the people whose God is the Lord" (Psalm 144:12-15). Some say it's wrong to seek Your blessings -- that we should be more passive and just takes what comes. But that's not a Biblical attitude in the light of this prayer of David and many other places of Your Word. "All Scripture is inspired by God" (2 Timothy 3:16). While some say, "Seek His face and not His hands," You call us to seek Your face and Your hands. And as we do, we must always remember to keep the right perspective and priorities, always seeking You first (Matthew 6:33). May I know that I am blessed beyond belief as a child of God. "When we cry, 'Abba! Father!' it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and join heirs with Christ" (Romans 8:15-17). It's important to understand, to seek, and to speak these blessings from Your hand, while continually seeking Your face. It reminds me of Your blessings even when I'm not feeling blessed and reminds me of Your eternal truth when my temporary circumstances may say otherwise. Blessed am I, a child of God, for my God is the Lord. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays If you can, Come to The Fountain Friday Night. Heather Butler from the Healing Rooms in Wales with be ministering to us and Phil Jackson will be leading us in worship. Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 Come to The Mountain! on Monday Nights for our ministry's weekly prayer for the peace of Jerusalem led by Doris and Bob McCray. 7 pm in the upstairs Community Room at First Southern National Bank on Harrodsburg Rd. in Lexington. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Ministering the Healing Love of God ... Preparing the Way of the Lord." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

"I Am Here" 10-17-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I welcome You -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- into my heart and into my day. ... As I watch and wait for You in the silence of surrender with an open heart and expectant faith, I hear You singing Your words of assurance and peace to my soul: "I am here I am here I am here when you go through the darkest valleys I am here when you climb the highest heights I am here when you long to know that there's Someone Who watches over your soul through the night. I am here! I Am here! Look to Me For I Am here I am here with My mercy and My might. I am here with you every day and night." Yes, Lord. You are here. There is never a moment that You are not with me, watching over me, even living within me. As in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, You lead me and watch over me (Exodus 31:21-22). Your Spirit is continually speaking to my spirit: "Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with My victorious right hand.... I am here to help you" (Isaiah 41:10-13, NLT). Thank You, Lord. Yes, You are. In Jesus' name, I pray. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays My Friend Heather Butler from Wales will join us at The Fountain this Friday night at 7:00 to share a prophetic word for Kentucky with us. She leads The Healing Rooms at Anglesey, Wales. Phil Jackson will lead us in worship. Please spread the word! Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 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

Rest in His Presence 10-16-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I turn the eyes of my heart to seek Your face and listen for Your voice. ... "He said, 'My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest' " (Exodus 33:14). When Moses was weighed down and worried, he wanted to know who You were sending to help him (v. 12). But Your answer was basically, "Here I am, Moses. I am with You. I will never leave you, nor forsake You. Keep looking to Me, keep trusting Me. I will lead You through, never giving you more than you can handle, but using every challenge along the way to teach you to trust in. So whether it's time to run or wrestle or wait, You can rest in Me." Then You showed him the glory of Your presence (v. 18-19). Thank You, for being with me every day. Thank You for showing me the glory of Your presence. As I look to You and rest in You, You will lead me through. I need not worry (Matthew 6:25-34). Worry in the light and glory of Your presence would be foolishness and sin. So I entrust all things into Your care. By Your grace, I choose to rest in Your presence and trust in Your power, as You lead me by putting Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays My Friend Heather Butler from Wales will join us at The Fountain this Friday night at 7:00 to share a prophetic word for Kentucky with us. She leads The Healing Rooms at Anglesey, Wales. Please join us if you can and pray for us if you can't. Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 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

Firm Steps of Faith 10-15-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Steady my thoughts and my heart in the peace of Your presence and the assurance of Your faithfulness. ... "Our steps are made firm by the Lord, when He delights in our way; though we stumble, we shall not fall headlong, for the Lord holds us by the hand. I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. They are ever giving liberally and lending, and their children become a blessing" (Psalm 37:23-27). Lord, sometimes my steps don't feel so firm. So, by faith, I entrust my steps and my decisions to You. Confirm the steps I have taken in line with Your leading and correct my missteps I have taken in line with the leading of my own desires and plans. Give me the peace that comes from knowing I bring each day to You, as I commit my path to You (Proverbs 3:5-6). Free me from fretting and fill me with peace. You are my Security and my Provider. You are worthy of all my trust and Your grace is sufficient for me (Philippians 4:19). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays My Friend Heather Butler from Wales will join us at The Fountain this Friday night at 7:00 to share a prophetic word for Kentucky with us. She leads The Healing Rooms at Anglesey, Wales. Please join us if you can and pray for us if you can't. Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 Come to The Mountain! on Monday Nights for our ministry's weekly prayer for the peace of Jerusalem led by Doris and Bob McCray. 7 pm in the upstairs Community Room at First Southern National Bank on Harrodsburg Rd. in Lexington. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Ministering the Healing Love of God ... Preparing the Way of the Lord." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

"The Road is Hard" 10-14-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are my Lord, my Light, and my Life. Come live in me today. ... "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it" (Matthew 7:13-14). The road is hard And the choices are not easy. But Your grace is near And You will show me the way. So Lord, lead on Down this long, hard road. And whenever I stray You are there to show me the way. As Your Spirit sings this song in my spirit, it seems I hear You say, "You don't know this road. You weren't meant to. Those who travel this road must learn to trust Me. Though it is hard, one day You will know it is worth it all." Yes, Lord. By Your grace, I do trust You. Help me listen as You speak and follow as You lead. Help me make the right choices and correct me when I'm wrong, to keep bringing me back onto the path that leads to life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays My Friend Heather Butler from Wales will join us at The Fountain this Friday night at 7:00 to share a prophetic word for Kentucky with us. She leads The Healing Rooms at Anglesey, Wales. Please join us if you can and pray for us if you can't. Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 Come to The Mountain! on Monday Nights for our ministry's weekly prayer for the peace of Jerusalem led by Doris and Bob McCray. 7 pm in the upstairs Community Room at First Southern National Bank on Harrodsburg Rd. in Lexington. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Ministering the Healing Love of God ... Preparing the Way of the Lord." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Morning and Evening Sacrifice 10-13-07

"Now this is what you shall offer on the altar: two lambs a year old regularly each day. One lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer in the evening ... for a pleasing odor, an offering of fire to the Lord. It shall be a regular burnt offering throughout your generations at the entrance of the tent of meeting before the Lord, where I will meet with you, to speak to you there" (Exodus 29:39-42). Everything in the laws of Moses, the words of the prophets, and the prayers of the psalms points to You and is fulfilled in You (Luke 24:44). As You said, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill" (Matthew 5:17). And all of the rituals of the Old Covenant point to the relationship of the New Covenant. The sacrifice of the lambs points to the Sacrifice of the Lamb; the command to holiness in action points to the call to holiness of heart; the fire poured out on the altar points to the Fire of the Spirit poured out on a people who have prepared their hearts and souls for Your power and purity and passion. Let my morning sacrifice of worship and prayer be an offering of my life and this day to You. Let my evening sacrifice be a cleansing and releasing of all that has passed through my life that day, entrusting it all to You to cause Your goodness and Your grace to worked out in it all. Then, I can rest in You through the night and arise the next day with clean hands and a pure heart, forgiven and free to come to You again in the morning to begin my day in worship and prayer with You. Let this be my offering of fire and a pleasing odor, morning by morning, and day by day. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, Heather Butler who leads The Healing Rooms in Wales will be with us at The Fountain this month (Friday Night, October 19th) to speak and minister in prophetic worship and intercession. The Lord has given her a word for us during this coming season. Come join us if you can and please spread the word! Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 Come to The Mountain! on Monday Nights for our ministry's weekly prayer for the peace of Jerusalem led by Doris and Bob McCray. 7 pm in the upstairs Community Room at First Southern National Bank on Harrodsburg Rd. in Lexington. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 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

Humility and Faith in Prayer 10-12-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. In these first moments of my morning, set the course for my day. ... "He was praying in a certain place, and after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, 'Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.' He said to them, 'When you pray ....' " (Luke 11:1-2). I talked about prayer at our Alpha Course last night, which is mostly for unbelievers to come join us for a meal, hear a talk about the basics of the faith, then ask questions and have discussions about the things we've come to believe and depend upon in our life with You. At the heart of the journey of faith is prayer. You didn't say, "If you pray," or "Maybe you should pray," You said, "When you pray." Prayer is not optional because prayer is at the heart of our relationship with You. Prayer is not a ritual, but a relationship. And it's the most important thing I do. As I seek You and make time for You and listen for You, You draw me into communion with You. In prayer, You change me, because it draws out of me humility and faith -- humility to set aside everything else but You and faith to believe that in a sense, You are there setting aside everything else but me. While You are everywhere and in all things, at the same time, in the mystery of the communion of Your presence, You are here with me alone in these moments of humility and faith in prayer. Lord, increase these moments, until I'm living my life in constant communion with You. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, Heather Butler who leads The Healing Rooms in Wales will be with us at The Fountain this month (Friday Night, October 19th) to speak and minister in prophetic worship and intercession. The Lord has given her a word for us during this coming season. Come join us if you can and please spread the word! Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 Come to The Mountain! on Monday Nights for our ministry's weekly prayer for the peace of Jerusalem led by Doris and Bob McCray. 7 pm in the upstairs Community Room at First Southern National Bank on Harrodsburg Rd. in Lexington. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 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 Reward of Heaven 10-11-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. More of You in my life. ... "Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets" (Luke 6:22-23). You are the Reward of Heaven. Everything I endure along the journey through this broken, fallen world will not be worth comparing to the joy of the Reward set before me in heaven. Keep giving me that heavenly perspective now, keep moving my heart to seek Your face now, so that one day I will stand in Your presence in heaven and see You face to face (1 Corinthians 13:12). There will be no more sadness, no more sickness, no more sorrow; there will be the joy of Jesus, revealed to me in the fullness of Your glory -- my Reward and the Destination of my journey (Revelation 21:1-8). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, Heather Butler from Wales will be with us at The Fountain this month (Friday Night, October 19th) to speak and minister in prophetic worship and intercession. The Lord has given her a word for us during this coming season. Come join us if you can and please spread the word! Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 Come to The Mountain! on Monday Nights for our ministry's weekly prayer for the peace of Jerusalem led by Doris and Bob McCray. 7 pm in the upstairs Community Room at First Southern National Bank on Harrodsburg Rd. in Lexington. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Ministering the Healing Love of God ... Preparing the Way of the Lord." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

"Heavenly Things" 10-10-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Come walk with me now in the cool of the morning and throughout this day, I pray. ... "If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?" (John 3:12). I find myself thinking more about heaven -- not necessarily that I'm ready to go there just yet, Lord, but that I'm beginning to sense I need to understand it more. You have called us to pray for Your will to be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10). If I am to pray specifically so I can praise You specifically for the answers that come, I need to know more specifically what it is I'm praying for. I need to know more of what it looks like when Your will is done in heaven so I can pray more accurately for Your will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. So help me see and help me believe, as You tell me about heavenly things. 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 He is, So are We" 10-9-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Come be the Center of my thoughts and desires, as I watch and wait for Your leading. ... "God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as He is, so are we in this world" (1 John 4:16-17). Lord, let the truth of this Word seep more deeply into my soul -- "because as He is, so are we in this world." This statement would sound like blasphemy if it were not the Word of God. But Your nature is to be my nature; Your ways are to be my ways (2 Peter 1:4). As You are in heaven, so I am to be on earth. As You are in my heart, so I am to be in the world. And at the center of Your nature and Your ways is love. This is the gauge and only standard by which to judge how much I am abiding in You and allowing You to abide in me -- the nature of Your love expressed in my life. This is Who You are and how You are; so this is how I am to be in this world. Give me grace to see this, embrace this, and live this. As my daily actions reflect, I still have far to go; but I choose to believe Your Word and submit to this goal as the standard for my life. As You are, so I choose to be in this world -- all by Your grace and all in Your power. "Lord, let it be with me according to Your Word" (Luke 1:38). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To order our cd's and dvd's on-line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 Come to The Mountain! on Monday Nights for our ministry's weekly prayer for the peace of Jerusalem led by Doris and Bob McCray. 7 pm in the upstairs Community Room at First Southern National Bank on Harrodsburg Rd. in Lexington. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Ministering the Healing Love of God ... Preparing the Way of the Lord." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

Forever Changed, Not Chained 10-8-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I speak out Your name and listen for Your voice. ... "Then David rose from the ground, washed, anointed himself, and changed his clothes. He went into the house of the Lord, and worshiped; he then went into his own house; and when he asked, they set food before him and he ate" (2 Samuel 12:20). David's son was ill and dying. With emotional, spiritual, and physical intensity, he fasted and prayed for the life of his child (v. 16). He often drew away to himself, not really wanting to be around other people in his grief (v. 17). But in the fullness of time, You gave him peace to release it all to You, with the wisdom to know the things he could not change. "Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me" (v. 23). It was time to rise and move on with his life and calling -- forever changed, but not forever chained to all that had happened. He turned his thoughts from himself to others. And as he comforted his wife, You bore them another son -- a son of promise and destiny, loved and blessed by the Lord, named Solomon (v. 24-25). I have found it surprisingly hard to come out of the emotional, spiritual, and physical intensity of my grandmother's illness, death, and resurrection. My father was their only child and preceded her in death long ago, so I have been both a son and grandson to her. With all the intensity of that relationship of love, I entered in to the intensity of this battle. I tend to become focused and intense in whatever I perceive to be the mission at hand. I was like that as a trial lawyer, and now I seem to be like that as a prayer minister -- pressing in and pressing through with tenacity and perseverance until the battle is over or the burden is lifted. It's often rewarding with a sense of faithfulness, purpose, and significance, but also exhausting. You've now lifted the burden in my grandmother's battle through this last stage of her life, and it's time to rise and move on -- forever changed but not forever chained to what has happened. Help me take my eyes off of myself and turn them to You, not ignoring what has happened, but allowing what has happened to shape me in the fulfillment of Your purposes and my destiny to come. As I begin to minister to others again, help me come out of isolation and into community, out of sorrow and into service -- morning by morning and step by step as You lead. Help me trust in Your wisdom and walk in Your ways. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 Come to The Mountain! on Monday Nights for our ministry's weekly prayer for the peace of Jerusalem led by Doris and Bob McCray. 7 pm in the upstairs Community Room at First Southern National Bank on Harrodsburg Rd. in Lexington. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Ministering the Healing Love of God ... Preparing the Way of the Lord." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Land of the Presence of the Lord 10-7-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I lift up my eyes and open up my heart to welcome the gift of Your presence that is laid up for me. ... "Then Cain went away from the presence of the Lord, and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden" (Genesis 4:16). Though You are everywhere, we can turn away from Your presence. Though You are never far from us, we can choose to live our lives on our own terms as if You were not there. Whether it's for a moment or a day or a lifetime, there is a cost for the exercise of our freedom. We forfeit the peace of Your presence, the strength of Your power, and the guidance of Your Spirit. So Your Holy Spirit is always moving on our human spirits to draw us near and bring us home. You created us to yearn for Your presence, to sense the dryness of our souls apart for the life Your presence brings, "so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord" (Acts 3:20). By Your grace, I choose to consciously seek Your face and welcome the refreshing of Your presence into the dryness of my soul. I choose to turn from the inward focus of self-pity and lift up my eyes to Your hills from where my help comes from (Psalm 121:1). I choose to obey Your command and trust Your call to "seek the Lord and His strength; seek His presence continually" (Psalm 105:4). I don't want to wander in my own strength or wallow in my own self-pity, I want to settle in the land of Your presence and drink from the wells of Your refreshing. 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

Woman of Great Faith and Authority 10-5-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me see more as You see, hear more as You hear, and be more as You are. ... "Greet Andronicus and Junia, my relatives who were in prison with me; they are prominent among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was" (Romans 16:7). Today my good friend, mentor in spiritual leadership and prayer, and board member of our ministry, Dr. Sandra Gray, will be inaugurated as the President of Asbury College. As in the days of Junia, she will be "prominent among the apostles" who will establish Your order in Your church in our generation, as You pour out Your Spirit on all flesh and as Your sons and daughters prophecy Your Word and live out Your kingdom in Your power (Acts 2:17). She will be a woman of great faith and authority. Lord, give her Your wisdom to lead with both Your humility and Your boldness, always sensitive to the leading of Your Spirit, and always faithful to the foundation of Your Word. Inspire and impart through her the flames of revival You have released through the students of this college so many times. Use her life and ministry as a model of spiritual leadership and maturity for the leaders You are raising up and positioning in the marketplace and public square and church in our day. Thank You for the blessing of knowing her, praying with her, and learning from her. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please join in me in prayer for Dr. Sandra Gray and her leadership of Asbury College: www.asbury.edu/inauguration Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 Come to The Mountain! on Monday Nights for our ministry's weekly prayer for the peace of Jerusalem led by Doris and Bob McCray. 7 pm in the upstairs Community Room at First Southern National Bank on Harrodsburg Rd. in Lexington. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Ministering the Healing Love of God ... Preparing the Way of the Lord." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Spend Some Time 10-4-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I've come to spend some time alone with You. ... "Seven times a day I praise You for Your righteous ordinances" (Psalm 119:164). I've been away from home for awhile, so yesterday I stayed home to spend some time with my family. Elijah wanted to go for a long walk before he went to school and another one when he got home. He calls them "adventures," whether we're walking in the woods or just down the sidewalk. Last night as he got ready for bed, he looked up and said, "I like spending time with you, Dad." It made me wish I could stay home every day. Amazingly, You like spending time with me too. You never leave me and never forsake me (Hebrews 13:5). You are with me "always" (Matthew 28:20). But it's when I consciously, intentionally turn my thoughts and open my heart to You that I seem to experience the nearness of Your presence. David set apart seven times every day to seek Your face and listen for Your voice, to deliberately praise You for Your goodness and guidance in his life. Even though he blessed You "at all times" and Your praises were "continually in (his) mouth," he also set aside times throughout his day to come away with You alone. It brings You joy when we deliberately choose to spend some time with 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

Take Hold of Life 10-3-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Let Your Spirit flow through mine. ... "Turn my eyes from looking at vanities; give me life in Your ways" (Psalm 119:37). Tune my perception and focus my attention on the things that matter to You. Take away my desire to spend my time on worthless and meaningless distractions. Deliver me from vanity. Let the moments of my days matter. Let Your ways become my ways, Your thoughts become my thoughts, and Your desires become my desires. By Your grace, I want to "take hold of the life that really is life" and live it well in the time I have (1 Timothy 6:19). You are Life (John 14:6). Come live Your life through 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

Eternal Memories 10-2-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Unchanging One, I find my peace in the steadfastness of Your security and love. ... "Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on Him that God the Father has set His seal" (John 6:27). In a few moments, I'll be leaving Nanny's little apartment for the last time. It's been both hard and good to sleep here among her things. But all these things will either be sold off or given way. A few will be passed down. Sooner or later, they will all perish. The sum of her life is not the things she left behind, but the lives she touched and the memories she made for us. Relationships are what matter most -- our relationships with one another, and most of all, our relationship with You. These are the things that are eternal. I just put my favorite little coffee in my bag to take home -- not because it has any value to anybody but me, but because of all the memories if carries. It was filled with about three-fourths milk and a little bit of coffee when I was a little boy their kitchen table at the farm. I wanted to be a big boy and drink coffee like the grown ups and listen to all the stories and soak in all the love of my grandparents. Those things are eternal and will not pass away. Those are the things I just put in my bag and will carry away in my 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 See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

Ready for "the Day of Christ" 10-1-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I begin this day, like every day, with the eyes of my heart seeking Your face and the heart of my soul receiving Your grace. ... "For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God" (Philippians 1:8-11). Thank You for those who have prayed for me with the compassion of Christ -- for my love to overflow, for my thoughts to grow in godly wisdom and insight, for my heart to be pure and blameless, for my life to bear the fruit of one who lives life each day by Your grace in right relationship with You. As I have received, let me give. What has been imparted to me by grace from the spiritual generations before me, impart through me by grace to the spiritual generations to follow me (Romans 1:11). Heavenly Father, You have sent Your Holy Spirit to prepare a holy bride for Your Holy Son -- a people "pure and blameless," eagerly longing for "the day of Christ," to be eternally joined in union with You, in every dimension of Your Being -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Let it be true in our day, that "the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready" (Revelation 19:7). In Christ, I am part of the bride and I am also a "friend of the Bridegroom" preparing the bride to be (John 3:29). I want to be ready for the marriage of the Lamb on the day of Christ to come. And I want to do my part in my generation to help make Your bride ready -- pure and blameless, whole and free, burning with a passion for You. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 Come to The Mountain! on Monday Nights for our ministry's weekly prayer for the peace of Jerusalem led by Doris and Bob McCray. 7 pm in the upstairs Community Room at First Southern National Bank on Harrodsburg Rd. in Lexington. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 To Purchase our Teaching and Prayer Ministry Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Ministering the Healing Love of God ... Preparing the Way of the Lord." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Resurrection Faith 9-30-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are the hope of the glory to come. You are the promise of the glory of Your presence with me and in me now -- "Christ in (me), the hope of glory" (from Colossians 1:27). ... "When they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some scoffed; but others said, 'We will hear you again about this.' At that point Paul left them. But some of them joined him and became believers ..." (Acts 17:32-34). The life and faith of my grandmother, Edna Hays, were honored yesterday at her funeral -- the celebration of her resurrection. But above all, You were honored. And I pray from the testimonies of her life and the certainty of her peace and trust in You to through the end, that some will become believers -- especially some of those closest to me and being pursued by the Holy Hound of Heaven. Nothing would honor Nanny's life and faith more than that. It's time for me to leave behind this season and place in my life now, with all its grief and joy, fully expressed, lived out, and prayed through. And I pray that somehow my time back here in west Texas has made a difference; I know it's made a difference in me. I leave here changed by this mysterious journey of life, death, and life beyond death. By Your grace, as I seek to keep looking to You and listening for the leading of Your Spirit, may I be more compassionate, more trusting, more bold in my faith and giving of my life, to become a little more like You each day (2 Corinthians 3:18). 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

Fully Alive 9-29-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Draw me in to the arms of my Father. My Father God, fill me fully with the peace and presence of Your Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit of the Living God, lift my eyes and open my heart to Jesus, my Lord and Savior, my Best Friend and King. Lord God, I worship You and need You in every dimension of Your Being. ... "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in Me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?' " (John 11:25-26) On the morning of the day Nanny died, my little five year old boy Elijah said to me, "Daddy, I'm praying for Nanny to die today." I was a little stunned to hear him say so plainly what Nanny was praying too. She was ready to go home to heaven, but were we? He had been praying so hard for her healing and life; and her prayer had been for complete healing -- whether on this side of heaven or the other. Then he said with the peace and confidence of the pure, child-like faith of one who sees the kingdom of God, "But I think even if she dies, she will live forever." I told him, "Son, the Holy Spirit showed you that. That's just what Jesus said. If we trust in Him, even though we die, we will live forever. And Nanny trusts in Him with all her heart." Today, we will lay Nanny's earthly body to rest in the little plot of land out by the cotton field on the edge of town. But her spirit is soaring in heaven. Even though she died, now she is fully alive. She is experiencing eternally the glory of her healing in the resurrection. "So it is with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a physical body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a physical body, there is also a spiritual body" (1 Corinthians 15:42-44). Nanny's spiritual body now shines eternally in the light of Your glory forever. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, thank you for honoring my grandmother, Edna Marie Hays (February 19, 1919 to September 25, 2007), by your prayers with me in this journey of faith. I pray for the peace of the presence of the Lord with you and your loved ones in your journey. 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

Come Comfort Me 9-28-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Take my hand, lead me on; heal my heart, help home. ... "Let Your steadfast love become my comfort" (Psalm 119:7). Take my hand, lead me on Heal my heart, help me home Lord I need You to come comfort me. Let me hear Your gentle voice Let me sense You through the storm Lord I thank You; You come and comfort me. For I know that only You Can come and lead me through Every valley and heartache I face. I'm so thankful for Your touch And Your Presence is enough To come and comfort my soul. ... Thank You for this song of comfort You're singing in my spirit and over my soul. Thank You for Your promise that "I, I am He who comforts you" (Isaiah 51:12). "As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you" (v. 66:12). Thank You for Your Holy Spirit, my "Comforter," who lives within me to lead me continually in the steadfast love of Your constant Presence (John 14:26 KJV). My heart is Your home; heal it now as I welcome You home. Lord, I need You to come comfort me. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, we'll have visitation tonight at Brannon Funeral Home in Lamesa, Texas and the Celebration of the Life and Resurrection of Edna Marie Hays ("Nanny") on Saturday morning. Thank you for keeping us in your prayers. May the Lord use this time to touch hearts, including mine. 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

I'll Fly Away 9-27-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Lead me beside Your still waters, through the valley of the shadow of death, and into the green pastures of Your peace as I trust and rest in You each day. ... "The days of our life are seventy years, or perhaps eighty, if we are strong; even then their spin is only toil and trouble; they are soon gone and we fly away" (Psalm 90:10). Everywhere I go in this little west Texas town, people say about Nanny, "We're sure gonna miss her." She had that rare quality of being able to touch people in all walks of life. Though she didn't get to finish high school, she had her own drapery business as a seamstress. She ran a saw mill with my grandfather in east Texas and then farmed cotton and cut grain and raised chickens with him in west Texas. In her later years she handed out samples of food in the grocery store, led a noon prayer group at the senior's center, and grew the prettiest flowers in town. After she moved into town a few years ago into the senior's center where her little apartment was, everybody said Danny was the manager, but she was the boss. She had a sharp wit and made everybody laugh because she loved life. But in these past couple of weeks, she grew weary of this world and longed for the world to come. And though we're all gonna miss her in ways we only feel in waves of emotions now, she's loving life in a way we can only imagine right now. She was ready to fly away. In those last hours of singing the old songs at her bedside, one that made me smile with joy for her and cry with sadness for me at the same time was "I'll Fly Away." Thankfully, I had Alan Jackson to sing along with me on CD when I couldn't sing because of one of those waves of emotions that have helped me keep releasing this all to You as we go over these mountains and through these valleys of both sadness and joy: "... Just a few more weary days and then I'll fly away; To a land where joys will never end, I'll fly away. I'll fly away oh glory I'll fly away When I die hallelujah by and by I'll fly away" Fly away, Nanny, into the arms of Your Savior. Your spirit is now in that land where joys will never end -- where there are no more tears (Revelation 21:4) and where there is only everlasting joy and gladness because all the sorrow and sighing of the weary days of this world have fled away from you forever (Isaiah 35:10). 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 http://www.messiah-ministries.org/ Daily Archives: http://www.morningbymorning.injesus.com/

Sacred Moment 9-26-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. As the old song says, " 'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus. ... "I'm so glad I've learned to trust Him, Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend; And I know that He is with me, Will be with me to the end." ... "But, as it is written, 'What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love Him" (1 Corinthians 2:9). I was standing by her side, stroking her white hair, when I noticed there was now almost an eternity between Nanny's last breathes. As I sat back and held her hand, I saw her eyelids slightly squeeze tight and the corners of her mouth slightly rise in just a fleeting moment. And her spirit was gone. Her mortal body put on immortality (v. 15:53). Oh, to have seen what she saw in that fleeting moment! One day I will. But she sees You now face to face. Her faith has become sight, and she has received all that You have prepared for this woman of faith who love You so. Until I reach that place in the journey where she has finally reached, my eyes can't see it, my ears can't hear it, my heart can't conceive it -- but hers' can and will, for all eternity. Thank You for letting me have just a glimpse in this sacred moment. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, thank you for walking with me in prayer through this part of my journey. Nanny (my grandmother, Edna Marie Hays) and I have always been very close, so I am very happy and very sad all at once. Please keep our family in friends in your prayers. We will likely have her a time to celebrate her life and resurrection into glory on Saturday morning, September 29, 2007 at her home church of First Baptist Church of Lamesa, Texas. Though I've had hardly any chance to respond, thank you for all your love, thoughts, notes, and prayers. God bless you and thank you for joining me in the journey! 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

Come Home 9-25-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Softly and tenderly, I hear You calling. ... "Come to Me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). Through the words of the old hymn, I hear the words of Your Spirit -- "Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, calling for you and for me. See on the portals He's watching and waiting, waiting for you and for me. Come home, come home, ye who are weary come home." Home is where the heart is, and Nanny's heart is already home with You. Now let her physical heart catch up with her spiritual heart. Thank You for the peace and process of these sacred moments. Softly and tenderly lift from her the burden of this earthly, temporary body as she enters into the rest of her heavenly, eternal body. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy 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

"I'll Love You Forever" 9-24-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are faithful and true. I trust You and love You. ... "Then Joseph said to his brothers, 'I am about to die; but God will surely come to you, and bring you up out of this land to the land that He swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.' So Joseph made the Israelites swear, saying, 'When God comes to you, you shall carry up my bones from here' " (Genesis 50:24-25). As Joseph neared his final moments of life, his thoughts were on You and Your promises to the generations to come. He loved You and trusted You, knowing future generations would see Your promises fulfilled in measures he could only trust to come to pass by faith. And he just wanted his bones to be carried home to that place where the promises of Your Word would be faithfully fulfilled. These final days for my grandmother, "Nanny," have been like that. She had an amazing burst of clarity, energy, and joy yesterday, as we prepared her to come home from the hospital. Her doctor brought his little girl into the room to see this woman of faith with such a remarkable spirit of peace and courage in the face of death. Though Nanny's simple words of blessing to this little girl were nothing religious or formal, they were simple words of blessing from one generation to the next nonetheless. Then I loaded her up and carried her home. We wheeled her by her cherished flowers and set her in her favorite chair next the wall where her collection of crosses hang, reminding her and us of the sacrifice of love for the generations to come. "Oh, my beautiful flowers! Oh, my beautiful crosses!" -- It was worth it all to hear her heart sing with joy of being able to come home, if even for a short while, all in trusting surrender to Your perfect timing and will. As I see her resting peacefully just before the dawn of yet another day here in her home where I've carried her bones, I remember a child's story I used to read to my children with a measure of the love she's given me: I'll Love You Forever by Robert Munsch A mother held her new baby and very slowly rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And while she held him, she sang: I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, As long as I'm living my baby you'll be. The baby grew. He grew and he grew and he grew. He grew until he was two years old, and he ran all around the house. He pulled all the books off the shelves. He pulled all the food out of the refrigerator and he took his mother's watch and flushed it down the toilet. Sometimes his mother would say, "This kid is driving me CRAZY!" But at night time, when that two-year-old was quiet, she opened the door to his room, crawled across the floor, looked up over the side of his bed; and if he was really asleep she picked him up and rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. While she rocked him she sang: I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, As long as I'm living my baby you'll be. The little boy grew. He grew and he grew and he grew. He grew until he was nine years old. And he never wanted to come in for dinner, he never wanted to take a bath, and when grandma visited he always said bad words. Sometimes his mother wanted to sell him to the zoo! But at night time, when he was asleep, the mother quietly opened the door to his room, crawled across the floor and looked up over the side of the bed. If he was really asleep, she picked up that nine-year-old boy and rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And while she rocked him she sang: I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, As long as I'm living my baby you'll be. The boy grew. He grew and he grew and he grew. He grew until he was a teenager. He had strange friends and he wore strange clothes and he listened to strange music. Sometimes the mother felt like she was in a zoo! But at night time, when that teenager was asleep, the mother opened the door to his room, crawled across the floor and looked up over the side of the bed. If he was really asleep she picked up that great big boy and rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. While she rocked him she sang: I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, As long as I'm living my baby you'll be. That teenager grew. He grew and he grew and he grew. He grew until he was a grown-up man. He left home and got a house across town. But sometimes on dark nights the mother got into her car and drove across town. If all the lights in her son's house were out, she opened his bedroom window, crawled across the floor, and looked up over the side of his bed. If that great big man was really asleep she picked him up and rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And while she rocked him she sang: I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, As long as I'm living my baby you'll be. Well, that mother, she got older. She got older and older and older. One day she called up her son and said, "You'd better come see me because I'm very old and sick." So her son came to see her. When he came in the door she tried to sing the song. She sang: I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always... But she couldn't finish because she was too old and sick. The son went to his mother. He picked her up and rocked her back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And he sang this song: I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, As long as I'm living my Mommy you'll be. When the son came home that night, he stood for a long time at the top of the stairs. Then he went into the room where his very new baby daughter was sleeping. He picked her up in his arms and very slowly rocked her back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And while he rocked her he sang: I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, As long as I'm living my baby you'll be. Thank You, Lord, for the promises of Your love and allowing us to see them fulfilled in our lives. And thank You for allowing us the gift and joy of passing on the promises of Your love to the generations to come. 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 Purchase our DVDs and CDs of Ministry Resources Online: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Stroll Across Heaven 9-23-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. In these first moments of the morning, narrow my focus to Your face. Your face alone, do I seek, O Lord. ... "Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is nothing on earth that I desire other than You. My flesh and my heart fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever" (Psalm 73:25-26). Somewhere along the way, Nanny heard a country song about strolling across heaven. Some of those words keep finding their way into her conversations that have become part talk, part prayer, and part song. She took her doctor by the hand and said, "I want You to be in heaven with me. I want You to stroll across heaven with you." He expressed the desire to go one day but wasn't wanting to go today. She said, "I just want you to be ready, because I want you to be there with me." Yes, Lord. We need to be ready. We need to have our relationship right with You. We need to desire to walk with You more than any other. Then when a day comes that our flesh and heart may fail, when the things of earth fade away and the things heaven become perfectly clear, we will just keep strolling with You, out of this world and all through the next. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please keep my family back home as well as my family out here in your prayers. This time in Texas in taking much longer than we thought. Though I know I should be here, it's also hard to not be at home. God bless you. Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 Come to The Mountain! on Monday Nights for our ministry's weekly prayer for the peace of Jerusalem led by Doris and Bob McCray. 7 pm in the upstairs Community Room at First Southern National Bank on Harrodsburg Rd. in Lexington. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Ministering the Healing Love of God ... Preparing the Way of the Lord." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com