The Message of the Cross, The Power of God 3-10-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Lead me, and I will follow. Speak to me, and I will listen. Send me, and I will go. ... "For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God" (1 Corinthians 1:17-18). The power of God is the message of the cross of Christ -- not religious rituals or eloquent sermons, not "lofty words or wisdom" but "Jesus Christ, and Him crucified" (v. 2:1-2). As God the Father in Word and Spirit, You humbled Yourself as God the Son "in human likeness" to lay down Your life for me in love (Philippians 2:5-8). That's the power of God, the power of Love. "God's love was revealed among us in this way: God sent His only Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins" (1 John 4:9-10). Lord, forgive me when I forget that. Convict me and correct me when I begin to start thinking its about me instead of You -- my ministry, my preaching, my praying, instead of Your sacrifice of Your love. Remind me every moment of the message of the cross. You died for me so I can live through You. I'm "bought with a price" and no longer my own (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). My Master and my God, how then, shall I live through You today? In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, we have 2 New CD series available from my week of ministry at Christ for the Nations in Dallas, Texas awhile back ( www.cfni.org ) : 1) Spiritual Warfare -- Fighting the Good Fight of Faith (4 cd's); and 2) The Father's Blessing Through Our Brokenness (1 cd) These are not yet on our web site, so please contact us at MessaiahMin@aol.com to order them for personal or group studies. 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! every Monday night at 7 pm to pray for Israel and the peace of Jerusalem led by Doris and Bob McCray of our ministry. Hosted in the upstairs community room of First Southern National Bank at 3060 Harrodsburg Rd in Lexington. Contact Doris at bndmccray@windstream.net All are welcome! Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Spring Forward 3-9-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I come simply and wait silently for the leading of Your voice in my spirit. ... "Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Why do you cry out to Me? Tell the Israelites to go forward' " (Exodus 14:15). Today we move our clocks one hour ahead. We "spring forward." That's what I hear You saying to my spirit: "Spring forward, My people. Rise up and go forward with courage and obedience. Go through the gates that I have opened and no man or demon can shut. I am with you. And I go before You. So who can stand against you. Speak the words I put on your lips to speak and pray the prayers I move in your hearts to pray. And you will see the waters part before you, for they part before Me; and I am in you." Yes, Lord. "What shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31, NKJV). With You abiding in us and with us abiding in You, even the gates of hell cannot prevail against us (Matthew 16:18). So by Your Spirit, I will arise; and by Your Spirit, I will spring forward and break through into the places You have prepared for me go by Your word and according to Your will. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I've received much refreshing and renewal with my friends and family at Aldersgate Renewal Ministries just north of Nashville this weekend. Please come join me for the National Conference of the Holy Spirit next summer, where I'm excited to be teaching equipping seasons and the pre-conference keynote speaker. Register on-line at www.aldersgaterenewal.org Now I would really appreciate your prayers for a safe trip home for all of us through the aftermath of the "snow storm of the century." God bless you! Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Covering of Glory 3-8-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Your name is my first word this new day. ... "But the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea" (Habakkuk 2:14). Most of the eastern half of our nation is covered in a thick blanket of snow. Schools, businesses, churches, and about everything else are being closed and canceled, or at least delayed and disrupted. But at the same time, there's kind of a stillness and silence that settles in with the snow. It's almost like a Sabbath rest on the land and reminder of Your desire to cover our hearts and our land with a blanket of Your glory. "But the Lord is in His holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before Him" (v. 2:20). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, thank you for praying for my healing the past few days. I woke up yesterday morning after good rest feeling a million times better and even made it down to Tennessee before the heavy snow for my advisory council meeting with Aldersgate Renewal Ministries. It's like being snowed in with family! Please keep this wonderful ministry of spiritual renewal in your prayers www.aldersgaterenewal.org (Please go ahead and register on-line now for the National Conference for Spirit-filled Living in July, where I'll be teaching equipping sessions and also the pre-conference keynote speaker). Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Healing Touch 3-7-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- Family of God -- You are Family to me, for I am a child of God through the blood of the Lamb. ... "When Jesus entered Peter's house, He saw his mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever; He touched her hand and her fever left her, and she got up and began to serve Him. That evening they brought to Him many who were possessed with demons; and He cast out the spirits with a word, and cured all who were sick. This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah, 'He took our infirmities and bore our diseases' " (Matthew 8:14-17). I embrace Your healing touch. I receive Your freeing word. Infirmity, sickness, and disease must flee from Your presence; and You are present in me. As the prophet Isaiah foretold of Your coming, You have taken upon Yourself my sins and sicknesses, my burdens and bondage, and my infirmities and impurities so that I might be "healed" and "whole" by the sacrifice of Your love for me (Isaiah 53:4-6). By the power of Your grace, I choose to believe Your Word, agree with Your Truth, and rise from bed this day to serve You with a thankful heart, a rested body, and a renewed spirit. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Thank you to all my friends who were praying for me. I pray for God's healing touch and freeing word in your life for your need as well. God bless you! Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

The Great Physician's Assistant 3-6-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. When I am weak, You are strong. When I am empty, You fill me up. So I cry out to You in my weakness and open up to You in my emptiness. Come, Lord Jesus, come. ... "He said to them, 'You will surely say this proverb to Me, 'Physician, heal yourself!' ..." (Luke 4:23, NKJV). I woke up this morning still under the prayer shawl my little boy Elijah laid over me last night after he tucked some pillows around me. He said, "I want to lay this over you for Jesus to cover you and heal you tonight." Somehow he has already grasped that there is no power in things such as prayer clothes, anointing oil, and baptismal water, but that You use these things to point us to You and remind us of Your power and Your presence in our lives. These are merely outward symbols of the inward grace that You alone provide. They sent me home early yesterday with my aches and chills and apparently pasty white complexion that was making everyone a little nervous to be around me. It seemed ironic to think about cancelling my healing class because I was sick. But even physicians need a doctor every now and then. And You are my Great Physician, Doctor Jesus. And You sent Your little Physician's assistant to help prepare the way for Your healing grace. I feel much better this morning, having rested in Your peace and be covered in Your love. Thank You for the good helpers You keep in this hospital of Your Holy Spirit. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" http://www.messiah-ministries.org/ 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: http://www.shop.messiah-ministries.org/ Daily Archives: http://www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com/

Greater than All 3-5-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I look to You and listen for Your leading. ... "I tell you, something greater than the temple is here" (Matthew 12:6). Someone has said, "The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing." Lord Jesus, You are the Main Thing. When the rules become more important than the relationship, when the place of worship becomes more important than the Person to be worshiped, that's idolatry. And that breaks Your heart. Even when You and Your first disciples were overjoyed that they went out in obedience to do the work of the kingdom of God in the authority and power of Your name, You reminded them to always keep their primary focus on their relationship with You (Luke 10:20). Though You desire obedience, don't let me get caught up in obeying You for obedience sake. Though You desire holiness of heart and life, don't let me get caught up in seeking holiness for holiness sake. It's all about You. "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in Him all things in heaven and earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers -- all things have been created in Him and through Him. He Himself is before all things, and in Him all things hold together" (Colossians 1:15-17). You are greater than the temple. You are greater than all. And I seek You first above all other things (Matthew 6:33). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com

Cleansing the Temple of Our Hearts 3-4-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Father and Son, You are One with the Spirit and One in me. ... "They gathered their brothers, sanctified themselves, and went in as the king had commanded, by the words of the Lord, to cleanse the house of the Lord. The priests went into the inner part of the house of the Lord to cleanse it, and they brought out all the unclean things that they found in the temple of the Lord ..." (2 Chronicles 29:15-16). In Christ, our bodies are the temple of the Lord (1 Corinthians 3:16). Our hearts are the inner part of the house of the Lord. Through the blood of the Lamb, we are all now priests of God, ministering to You, in the holy of holies of worship and prayer. And we are responsible for cleansing this temple of everything that would defile our hearts, distract our focus. Every idol we've allowed to take Your place must come down and come out. Anything we look to, trust in, or depend upon more than You is an idol. Anything that we allow to exalt itself to the place of influence and power over our thoughts and desires is an idol. Convict us of our idolatry and forgive us of our sin of not fully trusting You and worshiping You alone. Purify us and sanctify us. Deliver us of every unclean thing that keeps our hearts and minds, our souls and strength from fully loving You and ministering to You alone with single-minded focus and whole-hearted devotion. "Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, making holiness perfect in the fear of God" (2 Corinthians 7:1). With "clean hands and pure hearts" we will enter in to the holy place of Your Presence in the intimacy and purity of relationship with You we long to know. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, this prayer this morning expresses the heart of our ministry in many ways -- to experience this ourselves and to help others experience it as well through our ministries of teaching, prayer, healing and deliverance, spiritual direction in all the different forms of ministry and opportunities we have. The Father has sent His Holy Spirit to prepare a holy bride for His Holy Son to live forever with Him in the intimacy of relationship of love with our God. Thank you for joining with us in this ministry through your prayers, encouragement, and support in every way the Lord leads. God bless you! Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com

O Lord, My God 3-3-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are my Father and my Friend, my Lord and the Lover of my soul. I long for You to lead me into the glory of Your Presence. ... "O God, You are my God, I seek You, my soul thirsts for You; my flesh faints for You, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon You in the sanctuary, beholding Your power and glory" (Psalm 63:1-2). Though You created heaven and earth, You also created me. Though You know all things, You also know me. You are God and You are my God. You are Lord of all, and You are my Lord. You are omnipotent, but You are also personal. You are infinite, but You are also intimate. And I honor You for who You are in all the earth, but I also welcome You to be all You are here in me as well, as You fill my thirsting soul "with all the fullness of God" (Ephesians 3:19). Lately, You've been sending me new songs in the morning, awakening my soul to arise in worship. I hear Your Holy Spirit singing a new song in my human spirit again this morning with the heart of David I hear in this Psalm of thirsting for presence and trusting in Your provision in a deeply personal way: O Lord, my God, You are my God. O Lord, my God, You are my God. You're my Father and Friend Leader and Lord My Matchless Maker Wisdom and Word You're my Hero and Helper My Healer, Holy God Full of honor and glory And all that You are I thirst for You Thankfully Though I'm weary or afraid I give to You All of my Heart You have made I worship You Wait for You As I watch through the night I long for You Listen for You 'til morning's light I want for You Welcome You With all my might You're my Father and Friend Leader and Lord My Matchless Maker Wisdom and Word You're my Hero and Helper My Healer, Holy God Full of honor and glory And all that You are O Lord, my God, You are my God. O Lord, my God, You are my God. Thank You Lord, my God, for being so powerful and so personal, so infinite but also so intimate. By Your grace, I trust You and love You a little more each day. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Come to the Fountain! the 3rd Friday Night of every month at 7 pm for our Messiah Ministries' monthly gathering of people from many different churches and streams of the body of Christ across our city for prayer, praise, and healing worship. Hosted in the chapel of Centenary: 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY. Contact Marilyn Walker for details at dirofministries@aol.com All are welcome! Come to the Mountain! every Monday night at 7 pm to pray for Israel and the peace of Jerusalem led by Doris and Bob McCray of our ministry. Hosted in the upstairs community room of First Southern National Bank at 3060 Harrodsburg Rd in Lexington. Contact Doris at bndmccray@windstream.net All are welcome! Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" http://www.messiah-ministries.org/ 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: http://www.shop.messiah-ministries.org/

Burning Hearts 3-2-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Lord of heaven and earth, You are Lord of my life and Lord of my day. ... "They said to each other, 'Were not our hearts burning within us while He was talking to us on the road, while He was opening the scripture to us?" (Luke 24:32). This weekend, You've drawn near to us as a church in a deeper way than ever before during our times of gathering and growing in the journey of prayer with You and with one another. As we welcomed You, You walked with us. As we listened for You, You talked with us. And our hearts have been burning within us, ablaze with new passion for prayer and communion with You. Lord, keep fanning these embers into flame within us and blow them into the dry fields of dry hearts ready to be awaked and ablaze with a burning passion for You. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, thank you so much for covering us in prayer at my home church in Lexington this weekend. We were truly changed in the experiences and encounters of prayer. And I pray for an awakening and revival of prayer in your heart and church and in mine and throughout all the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ. God bless you! Come to the Fountain! the 3rd Friday Night of every month at 7 pm for our Messiah Ministries' monthly gathering of people from many different churches and streams of the body of Christ across our city for prayer, praise, and healing worship. Hosted in the chapel of Centenary: 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY. Contact Marilyn Walker for details at dirofministries@aol.com All are welcome! Come to the Mountain! every Monday night at 7 pm to pray for Israel and the peace of Jerusalem led by Doris and Bob McCray of our ministry. Hosted in the upstairs community room of First Southern National Bank at 3060 Harrodsburg Rd in Lexington. Contact Doris at bndmccray@windstream.net All are welcome! Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

More Than Enough for Me 2-29-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me be humble enough to seek You, wise enough to believe You, and faithful enough to obey You. ... Humble enough to seek You Wise enough to believe You Faithful enough to obey You You're more than enough more me. You're more than enough When times are rough You're more than enough Because You fill me up You're more than enough You love me so much You're more than enough for me. "And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share in every good work" (2 Corinthians 9:8). Thank You, Lord. Your grace is sufficient for me; Your failing love and strength of Your steady presence with me through every valley and over every mountain, across every desert and in the midst of every fire is more than enough more me (v. 12:9). You're everything I need -- exceedingly, abundantly more than I could ever ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). When I doubt it, remind me. When I question it, encourage me. When I take it for granted, forgive me. A lifetime of service and sacrifice of all I have and all I am could never begin to repay You for all You've done and all You continue to do me every moment of every day in the extravagance of Your grace for me. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, as you know from our journey of prayer together, I often travel to other places to minister through prayer revivals, teaching and preaching, leading retreats, and equipping others in spiritual ministry. But this weekend, Feb 29-Mar 2, I'm so honored and excited to have an opportunity to minister to the people of my home church in Lexington, Kentucky, where our Messiah Ministries office is hosted and based. Along with Laura Beach of our ministry and Sr. Pastor David Thomas of my home church, I'll be helping lead a Prayer Summit at Centenary United Methodist Church this weekend as we grow in our understanding and experience of prayer http://CentenaryLex.com/prayer/PrayerSummit2008.shtml Please come if you can and cover us in your prayers, that we would experience new life, depth, and passion in an awakening of prayer and revival in our hearts to part of God's transformation in our city and region. I pray the same for you and your church. God bless you! Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com

Rebuild the Walls, Restore the Gates 2-28-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. By the power of Your grace, I willing choose to surrender and submit my life and this day into Your hands and Your will. ... "I said, 'O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love Him and keep His commandments; let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes be open to hear the prayer of Your servant that I now pray before You day and night for Your servants, the people of Israel, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against You. Both I and my family have sinned' " (Nehemiah 1:5-6). Confession of sin and repentance of heart prepares the way of the Lord to move in the power of restoration and revival. You have created our world based upon Your spiritual principle of obedience to Your will. Sin has its consequences, but so does repentance. "Remember the word that You commanded Your servant Moses, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples; but if you return to Me and keep My commandments and do them, though your outcasts are under the farthest skies, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place at which I have chosen to establish My name.' These are Your servants and Your people, whom You redeemed by Your great power and Your strong hand" (v. 1:8-10). Confession cleanses our soul. Repentance turns our hearts away from ourselves to You and from our defeated past to our destined future. And when we confess our sins and return our hearts to You, You forgive us and "cleanse us from all unrighteousness," redeeming us and restoring us to intimacy or relationship with You (1 John 1:9). You gather us from where we have scattered ourselves away from Your presence and Your purpose by the self-centeredness of sin. And You bring us back to the place of peace in alignment with Your plans for our lives "by Your great power and Your strong hand." There in the place of peace in our hearts that comes from the return of obedience to Your will by Your grace, You rebuild the walls of our security in You, and restore the gates of righteousness in our souls (Nehemiah 2:17-18). "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). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, along with Laura Beach of our ministry and David Thomas of my home church, I'll be helping lead a Prayer Summit at Centenary United Methodist Church this weekend as we grow in our understanding and experience of prayer http://centenarylex.com/prayer/PrayerSummit2008.shtml Please keep us in your prayers that we would experience new life, depth, and passion in an awakening of prayer. I pray the same for you and your church. God bless you! Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" http://www.messiah-ministries.org/ 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: http://www.shop.messiah-ministries.org/

"The Gracious Hand of My God" 2-27-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Abide in me and arise in me by the Spirit of Your Presence in the communion of prayer. ... "Then the king said to me, 'What do you request?' So I prayed to the God of heaven.... And the king granted me what I asked, for the gracious hand of my God was upon me" (Nehemiah 2:4-8). Prayer opens the windows of heaven over those who have influence in our lives. They have free will, but their will is subject to the influence of the God of heaven (Proverbs 21:1). And "all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to (You)" (Matthew 28:18). So to pray in Your name is to pray in Your nature, according to Your will, and in alignment with Your authority. As we humble ourselves under Your hand, to seek You and Your will, You send Your Spirit to initiate and inspire our prayers in accordance with Your purposes (Romans 8:26-27). Then we receive what we ask, in Your timing and Your way, because Your gracious hand is upon us as Your gracious Spirit prays through us to accomplish Your purposes on earth through our prayers in agreement with the God of heaven. "And this is the boldness we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have obtained the requests made of Him" (1 John 5:14-15). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, along with Laura Beach of our ministry and David Thomas of my home church, I'll be helping lead a Prayer Summit at our church this weekend as we grow in our understanding and experience of prayer http://centenarylex.com/prayer/PrayerSummit2008.shtml Please keep us in your prayers that we would experience new life, depth, and passion in an awakening of prayer. I pray the same for you and your church. God bless you! Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Come Breaking Out and Busting Through 2-26-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Your name is above every name and worthy of all my praise. I declare Your name and proclaim Your praise over everything I face today. ... Come breaking out Come busting through Come rushing like a stream Come rising up Come pressing on Come blowing like the wind Come live in me Come love through me Come move in Your power and Your might "And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting" (Acts 2:2). Lord, let the violent wind of Your Spirit blow the chaff out of my soul. Let it breathe new life into my spirit and burn with fresh passion in my bones. Fill my house and my heart and then flow out of me like rivers of living water (John 7:38). Consume me and change me, then consume and change everything and everyone around me in the power and might of Your Spirit. I don't want to be the same. And I don't want them to be either. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, in my life and in my world. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" http://www.messiah-ministries.org/ 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: http://www.shop.messiah-ministries.org/

Turn My Heart to Your Ways 2-25-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. King of kings and Lord of lords, all heaven and earth is given into Your hands. I entrust You with my life and this day as well. ... "Turn my heart to Your decrees, and not to selfish gain. Turn my eyes from looking at vanities; give me life in Your ways" (Psalm 119:36-37). You are sovereign over all things, yet You have given me the gift of free will. You are love, but You don't force me to love You. You are holy, yet You don't force me to obey You. Instead, You set before me right and wrong, blessings and curses, life and death. And by the sacrifice of the blood of the Son of God, You give me the grace to desire You and Your ways and the freedom to turn from my self and my own. I've seen enough to know that You are good and wise and worthy of my trust. So I entrust my heart to Your decrees and my life to Your ways. Form Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart. Open my eyes to see the path You've set before me and open my ears to hear the leading of Your voice. "And when you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it' " (Isaiah 30:21). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Bad Roots Produce Bad Fruit 2-24-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Good morning, Father God. Good morning, Holy Spirit. I welcome every dimension of Your Being into every dimension of my being. ... "He said to them, 'Then do you also fail to understand? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile, since it enters, not the heart but the stomach, and goes out into the sewer?' (Thus He declared all foods clean). And He said, 'It is what comes out of a person that defiles. For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.' " (Mark 7:18-23). Bad roots produce bad fruit. (A principle I learned from Jack Frost in healing prayer ministry of the Father heart of God). And no matter how much ornamental fruit we might hang on our tree to look good and healthy and attractive -- whether physically, spiritually, emotionally, financially, relationally, or any other way -- the bad roots will eventually bear bad fruit. Our lives will bear the fruit of the seeds we've sown in our hearts. And the harvest usually comes when the seeds have grown into full maturity. "Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow" (Galatians 6:7). As I pray for others to be freed of the bad fruit their lives are bearing by digging up the bad roots that bear bad fruit, it never ceases to humble me to examine the seeds sown and roots buried deep in my own life. "As it is written: 'There is not one who is righteous, not even one' " (Romans 3:10). None have room to be self-righteous; and we all should make room to humble ourselves in our hearts here at the foot of Your cross, continually bringing our lives under the mercy of Your blood. "Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, making holiness perfect in the fear of God" (2 Corinthians 7:1). Then the seeds of righteousness sown in our hearts will bear the fruit of righteousness displayed in our lives. Then we will "lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, as (we) bear fruit in every good work and as (we) grow in the knowledge of God" (Colossians 1:10). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I will be teaching a breakout session on Prayer through Inner Healing -- healing from the inside out, healing from the roots up -- during our Prayer Summit this coming weekend of Feb 29th at my home church in Lexington: www.CentenaryLex.com Please keep us in prayer as I help lead our church into a deeper experience of prayer next Friday Night through Sunday morning. Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com

"The Hand of the Lord" 2-23-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I seek Your face and praise Your name. ... "I took courage, for the hand of the Lord God was upon me ..." (Ezra 7:28). Lord, let me feel the weight of Your hand, "the mighty hand of God" (1 Peter 5:6). With Your hand on my shoulder and Your Spirit in my heart, You fill my soul with courage and form my thoughts with wisdom. Knowing You go before me to prepare the way of my steps, whom then shall I fear? Of what then shall I be afraid? The God of heaven and earth is with me and within me. And nothing shall separate me from His power and His love (Romans 8:38-39). "It is You who light my lamp; the Lord, my God, lights up my darkness. By You I can crush a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall" (Psalm 18:28-29). So knowing You are with me and the favor of Your hand is upon me, I will "be strong and courageous" in the power of Your grace wherever You send me this day (Joshua 1:6). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

"An Open Ear" 2-22-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I listen for Your voice and long for Your presence, as I begin my day watching and waiting for You. ... "Sacrifice and offering You do not desire, but You have given me an open ear" (Psalm 40:6). Forgive me when I take for granted the relationship and intimacy with You that I have as a child of God. I am blessed beyond measure to live in the age of Your constant communion and persistent presence (Matthew 28:20). "But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. Truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it" (Matthew 13:16-17). More than sacrifice, You desire surrender. More than rituals, You desire relationship. Let everything I do come out of who I am. These first moments of the morning dedicated to You open the lines of communication that will carry me in communion with You throughout my day. Through the intimacy and primacy of prayer, You bless me with open eyes to see what You are doing and open ears to hear what You are saying. Then You empower me by Your grace to do my part in partnership with Your will for my life this day. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please keep us in prayer as we prepare for the Prayer Summit at my home church in Lexington next weekend, starting Friday night Feb 29th: www.CentenaryLex.com I'll be helping lead our church in a time of discovery into the depths of prayer along with our Sr. Pastor David Thomas and Laura Beach of our ministry on Friday night, Saturday, and Saturday night. Phil Jackson will be leading us in worship. Please pray for an outpouring of God's Spirit to awaken us and revive us in prayer. Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Look to the One Who is Always There 2-21-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I lift up my eyes unto the hills and open up my heart unto Yours. You are my strength and vision, my help and provision. ... "I lift up eyes to the hills -- from where will my help come from? My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. ... The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore" (Psalm 121:1-8). When I lived in Corpus Christi, we would go fishing in the Gulf of Mexico sometimes. I was from the flat, dry fields of west Texas so the experience of being tossed to and fro in the gulf waves was a new experience. The first time, it was hard to think about fishing when I was just thinking about finishing the day with my lunch intact. My friend Bruce taught me to look to the horizon when my stomach felt queasy because the line where the sky met the sea was steady and firm. Then everything would settle down and I could get back to fishing. (At least the fish were really big and fun to catch, so that somehow it made it all worth it!). Sometimes I still get queasy, tossed to and fro on the seas of life that come slamming against my boat. It's easy to get jostled around and to lose my focus. Sometimes life doesn't seem all that fun and all that worth it. But like a good friend, Your Holy Spirit is there to comfort me and remind me to lift up my eyes to You, the One whose always there -- steady and secure, always ready to help me get my balance and steady my soul. You always bring me back to the place "of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God" so that I'm no longer "tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind" that would steal my focus, my peace, and my joy (from Ephesians 4:13-14). And at the end of the day, I can say again, "It was worth it, because You were with me." In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays We have two new resources on cd from my week of ministry to the students at Christ for the Nations in Dallas awhile back www.cfni.org : Spiritual Warfare -- Fighting the Good Fight of the Faith. This is a four-part series on understanding the victory of cross and our authority to enforce the victory of the cross in our lives and those we love. The Father's Blessing through Our Brokenness. This is an evening message and ministry of the Father's Blessing we long to have from the Father heart of God, but often seek in the wrong ways that lead to brokenness instead of blessing. But as we will give Him our brokenness in humility and faith, He releases to us the Father's Blessing of His peace and power and presence. Send your order to us by email at MessiahMin@aol.com Our other resources on the web site at www.shop.messiah-ministries.org All of these will be available at the bookstore for the Prayer Summit I'm helping lead on the weekend of Feb 29th at Centenary UMC in Lexington: www.CentenaryLex.com Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

"Christ Who Lives in Me" 2-20-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I add my voice to those around Your throne in worship and praise. ... On this day of 2-20, I think of Galatians 2:20: "And it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Alive in me. Arise in me. My life is not my own. Speak through me. Teach through me. My life is not my own. Your life in me. Your faith in me. Come live Your life through me. Yes, Lord. Form Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart. In response to Your love and in the power of Your grace, "I have been crucified with Christ" in my flesh so that I may live with Christ by Your Spirit (v. 2:19). "We know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. For whoever has died is freed from sin. But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him. ... So you must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus" (Romans 6:6-11). I confess that there are many times when I sin. But I also acknowledge that when I sin it is by my choice alone, because in You, sin no longer has "dominion" over me except to the very degree I choose to submit to its power instead of Your power (Romans 6:12-14). I pray for a stronger sense of the fear of the Lord and a deeper sense of the conviction of Your Holy Spirit. I can trust You in this because I trust Your love for me -- that You are for me and not against me, that You love me and empower me as You come live through me in the power of Your love and the presence of Your Spirit. As I fully embrace the victory of Your cross and the glory of Your resurrection, I am fully "alive to God in Christ Jesus." In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays We have two new resources on cd from my week of ministry to the students at Christ for the Nations in Dallas awhile back: Spiritual Warfare -- Fighting the Good Fight of the Faith. This is a four-part series on understanding the victory of cross and our authority to enforce the victory of the cross in our lives and those we love. The Father's Blessing through Our Brokenness. This is an evening message and ministry of the Father's Blessing we long to have from the Father heart of God, but often seek in the wrong ways that lead to brokenness instead of blessing. But as we will give Him our brokenness in humility and faith, He releases to us the Father's Blessing of His peace and power and presence. Send your order to us by email at MessiahMin@aol.com Our other resources on the web site at www.shop.messiah-ministries.org All of these will be available at the bookstore for the Prayer Summit I'm helping lead on the weekend of Feb 29th at Centenary UMC in Lexington: www.CentenaryLex.com Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Fully Alive in the Resurrection Power of Christ 2-19-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I am alive in Christ; and You are alive in me. ... "But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died. For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human being, for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:20-22). In the power of Your grace, I choose to be fully alive to every experience and expression of life today. And no matter what I encounter, I will encounter it with resurrection power -- the power of the resurrected Christ fully alive in me. "If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through His Spirit that dwells in you" (Romans 8:11). This is "the immeasurable greatness of (Your) power for us who believe, according to the working of (Your) great power" (Ephesians 1:19). With You for me and Your resurrection power at work within me, who can stand against me (Romans 8:31)? No matter what comes -- hardship, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, or sword -- "in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us" (v. 8:35-37). This is the perspective and attitude of life You died for me to live. And so I will this day and every day, in honor of an in reliance upon Your sacrifice and love for me. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I'll be helping lead a Prayer Summit at Centenary United Methodist in Lexington, where our ministry office is based, the weekend of Feb. 29th: www.CentenaryLex.com Please keep us in prayer and come join us if you can. All are welcome! Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org