First Ten Days, Seeking the Glory of His Manifest Presence 1-1-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. In these first moments of this first day of this new year, I offer You the first fruits of my first thoughts. You are the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End, the Alpha and the Omega, and Everything in between (Revelation 22:13). Come again soon to the earth; come again now in me. … "Then He led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up His hands, He blessed them. While He was blessing them, He withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshipped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God" (Luke 24:50-53). At the end of Your first coming, You left Your first disciples with great joy, continually in the temple blessing God. Your true temple is "a house of prayer" -- the place of seeking Your face, offering our praise, sacrificing our self will in complete surrender and trusting submission to Your perfect will, entering deeply into the holy communion of Your Holy Spirit through the intimacy of the blessing of prayer (Luke 19:46). This is the place of "great joy" in the deep peace of Your abiding Presence, with our hearts turned to You and to the people of all nations who are on Your heart. "These I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; for My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples" (Isaiah 56:7). Now as we draw nearer each passing year to Your second coming, let us be found in the place of prayer, caught up in the glory cloud of Your manifest Presence on Your holy mountain -- the high place of worship and prayer, continually blessing our God. Those first disciples obeyed Your command to return to Jerusalem after Your ascension into glory. In temple and the upper room where they were staying, "these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer" (Acts 1:12-14). For the first ten days, they kept pressing in and passionately pursuing You in prayer. And then their lives and the history of the world were changed forever. "When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 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. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and begin to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability…. All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, 'What does this mean?' But others sneered and said, 'They are filled with new wine' " (Acts 2:1-13). But in the boldness and wisdom of the Holy Spirit, Peter arose among the one hundred twenty disciples, who had been seeking the Presence and the glory of God continually in worship and prayer, to declare this was God pouring out His Spirit upon all flesh (Acts 2:14-21). This was a new day, a new season of time between the first and second coming of Christ, "before the coming of the Lord's great and glorious day" (Acts 2:20). In this season, as Your Spirit filled Your people on the earth to proclaim the coming of the kingdom of God through rule and reign of Jesus Christ as Lord, "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Acts 2:21). This is the heart of the house of prayer -- to worship and bless You continually, as we praise You and pray for the people of all nations to come to know You and call upon Your name. In these first ten days of this new year, draw me into the place of prayer, draw me in the upper room, continually seeking Your face in the temple of my heart, yearning for the Fire to fall. These ten days speak of a tenderness of heart always, continually turned to You. Lord, let this new year be a personal Pentecost for me and for Your church and for the people of all nations. Let us be a people prepared and preparing the way of the Lord (Isaiah 40:3; Luke 3:4). Let us be a holy people -- forgiven and cleansed, whole and free, by the power of the blood of the Lamb who takes away the sins of the world -- burning with the holy passion of a holy bride, longing with eager anticipation for the coming of our Bridegroom and King. "The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!' … The One who testifies to these things says, 'Surely I Am coming soon!' Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!" (Revelation 22:17-20). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays In the first 10 days of January 2009, many of us are sensing a call to try to spend as much of these days in fasting, prayer, and worship as we can in the upper room of the presence of the Lord. Cornerstone International House of Prayer (CI-HoP) in Wilmore, Kentucky ( http://www.cornerstoneinternational.org/prayer/ ) will be joining with us to host a place for these days of prayer, starting Jan 5th leading up to our Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit set for January 9-10, 2009, hosted at Church of the Savior. Flyer is Attached. Ray Hughes of Selah Ministries is coming Saturday night of the Prayer Summit to share a word for Kentucky with us!( www.selahministries.com ). Margaret Therkelsen, Tom Monroe, David Fultz, Tommy Green, Bob Hale, Rob Poindexter, Mark MacDonald, Laura Beach and other citywide prayer leaders will be speaking and leading in prayer as well throughout the weekend. Send me a note if you're interested in joining in. And please keep us in prayer and spread the word! Please Register Now for our next Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry (Level I & II) January 14-17, 2009 Registration and Information: ClickHere Equipping and Empowering Spiritual Leaders in Ministry to Proclaim the Kingdom of God, bind up the brokenhearted, and set the captives free in the name of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit 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 Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com Please Click Here to Order our Ministry Resources or Contribute On-Line

"Let Us Go On" 12-31-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I lift my eyes, open my heart, and narrow my thoughts to You alone. … "Therefore, let us go on toward perfection, leaving behind the basic teaching about Christ, and not laying again the foundation: repentance from dead works and faith toward God, instruction about baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And we will do this if God permits" (Hebrews 6:1-3). As we come now to the last day of the year, I pause to give You thanks for Your persistent presence and constant companionship in every step of the journey. I think of the times of laughter and joy … And I see Your face, lifted to heaven, smiling wide with sparkling eyes, as You laughed with me. I think of the times of heartbreak and sorrow … And I feel Your arms, wrapped around me, holding me tight, drawing out the pain and pouring in Your love, until my strength and peace returned. I think of the times of great promise and hope, breakthroughs and victories, encouragement and excitement of seeing Your glory come down and Your power made perfect in my weakness … And I "continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God" from whom all blessings flow (Hebrews 13:15). I think of the times of crushing disappointment of the prayers not yet answered or not answered in the way I wanted … And I remember Your Word that it is "through faith and patience (that we) inherit the promises" of the kingdom of God (Hebrews 6:12). As I look back, I see Your "footprints in the sand" with mine in all the times You walked with me and ran with me and danced with me; and I see Yours alone in the times You had to lift me up and carry me. But now I hear You say, "Let us go on. Let us leave behind the lessons you've learned this past season; they are now a part of you. Let us look forward to the lessons to come, as I teach You more about Me and about who you will become." Your Word comes to mind: "Call to Me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known" (Jeremiah 33:3). And this: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God" (1 Corinthians 2:9-10, NKJV). Yes, Lord. By Your grace and in Your Spirit, I prepare to go on into this new year, this new season of life in Christ, leaving behind, but standing upon, the foundation of the lessons You've sealed in my soul. Teach me more, let me experience more, give me faith to believe there is always more, as I go on with You "toward perfection" in the grace of God growing in me. "Not that I have already attained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me His own. Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but his one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goad for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:12-14). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I pray the Lord's blessing and seal upon all He has done and will do in you and through you for the glory of His name. Thank you for joining with me in the journey, and I look forward to the exciting adventures with you in the days to come. Happy New Year! In the first 10 days of January 2009, many of us are sensing a call to try to spend as much of those days in prayer and worship as we can in the upper room of the presence of the Lord. Cornerstone International House of Prayer (CI-HoP) in Wilmore, Kentucky ( http://www.cornerstoneinternational.org/prayer/ ) will be joining with us to host a place for these days of prayer, starting Jan 5th leading up to our Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit set for January 9-10, 2009, hosted at Church of the Savior. Flyer is Attached. Ray Hughes of Selah Ministries is coming Saturday night of the Prayer Summit to share a word for Kentucky with us!( www.selahministries.com ). Margaret Therkelsen, Tom Monroe, David Fultz, Tommy Green, Bob Hale, Rob Poindexter, Mark MacDonald and other citywide prayer leaders will be speaking and leading in prayer as well throughout the weekend. Send me a note if you're interested in joining in. And please keep us in prayer and spread the word! Please Register Now for our next Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry (Level I & II) January 14-17, 2009 Registration and Information: ClickHere Equipping and Empowering Spiritual Leaders in Ministry to Proclaim the Kingdom of God, bind up the brokenhearted, and set the captives free in the name of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit 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 Please Click Here to Order our Ministry Resources or Contribute On-Line

Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit

Please come join us for this time of Prayer, Praise, and Proclamation

as we seek to hear what the Lord is saying to us for our city and region

in this coming year! Spread the word!

God bless you and have a

Happy New Year in Christ!

In the Love of Jesus,

Tommy Hays

The Heart and Tabernacle of David 12-30-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Your name is above every name, beneath every promise, and before every good thing. I look to You and call on Your name, now and throughout my day. … "And now, our God, we give thanks to You and praise Your glorious name. But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to make this freewill offering? For all things come from You, and of Your own have we given You…. O Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building You a house for Your holy name comes from Your hand and is all Your own" (1 Chronicles 29:13-16). It was in the heart of David to build a temple, a holy habitation, for Your presence in the midst of Your people. As He gathered all the provisions and dedicated them all to You, he realized every good thing he had to offer was a gift You had already given. "For all things come from You." For every good and perfect gift comes from You, the Father of lights (James 1:17). So it is with our hearts; so it is with our lives. Anything good to give in us is only God. Only by the grace of God can we offer anything that's of worth. But by the grace of God, we can offer our hearts and our lives, which are now of great worth. They are bought with the price of blood of Christ (1 Corinthians 6:20). And now our hearts are the place of Your holy habitation. Now our lives are the provision for Your purposes in the earth (Galatians 2:20). By the grace of God, we can choose each day to make our freewill offering of our hearts and lives to You, "building You a house for Your holy name." And though David's heart was to build Your house, he could only make provision for the next generation to build what he couldn't build (1 Chronicles 29:19). Give us that heart of David. Give us that heart that longs to see the next generation go farther than we could go, do more than we could do, and see Your name glorified in ways that we couldn't see. Let us find great joy in knowing our sons and daughters, those we have discipled in the faith, will experience exceedingly abundantly more than all we can ask or imagine. This is the heart of David, the tabernacle of David, that You have promised to restore to Your people in these last days (Amos 9:11; Acts 15:16). And Your name will be exalted in us and through us for all the world to see and for many to come and believe, and put their trust in the Lord. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays In the first 10 days of January 2009, many of us are sensing a call to try to spend as much of those days in prayer and worship as we can in the upper room of the presence of the Lord. Cornerstone International House of Prayer (CI-HoP) in Wilmore, Kentucky ( http://www.cornerstoneinternational.org/prayer/ ) will be joining with us to host a place for these days of prayer, starting Jan 5th leading up to our Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit set for January 9-10, 2009, hosted at Church of the Savior. Ray Hughes of Selah Ministries is coming Saturday night of the Prayer Summit to share a word for Kentucky with us!( www.selahministries.com ). Margaret Therkelsen, Tom Monroe, David Fultz, Tommy Green, Bob Hale, Rob Poindexter, and other citywide prayer leaders will be speaking and leading in prayer as well throughout the weekend. Send me a note if you're interested in joining in. And please keep us in prayer and spread the word! Please Register Now for our next Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry (Level I & II) January 14-17, 2009 Registration and Information: ClickHere Equipping and Empowering Spiritual Leaders in Ministry to Proclaim the Kingdom of God, bind up the brokenhearted, and set the captives free in the name of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit Conference includes: * Lunches/snacks, materials (all four days) * Notebook with valuable teaching notes and other ministry material * Teaching, Equipping, & Impartation from a seasoned leadership team* Hands-on Interactive Participation in Prayer Ministry * Deep worship & incredible fellowship experiences with like-minded believers The Cost is $125.00, with partial scholarships available if necessary. (Please consider giving one for someone else if you can't come). Held at our home base in Lexington, Kentucky. Lodging is on your own but there may be a limited number of "Partner Homes" that will be available for lodging needs. Registration or Information: ClickHere 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 Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com Please Click Here to Order our Ministry Resources or Contribute On-Line

"Far More Than All We Can Ask or Imagine" 12-29-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Good morning, my Father God. Good morning, Holy Spirit. I welcome every Dimension of Your Being into every dimension of my being, that as far as Your grace will go, I "may be filled with all the fullness of God" (Ephesians 3:19). … "For this reason I bow my knees before, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. I pray that, according to the riches of His glory, He may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through His Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of God that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God" (Ephesians 3:14-19). Until I am "filled with all the fullness of God," there is more. Until I am "filled with all the fullness of God," I have not arrived, I have not fully thrived, I have not reached the depths of surrender nor the heights of spiritual maturity You desire. There is more. According to Your Word, inerrant and true, You want to strengthen me in my spirit with Your power through Your Spirit. You want to fully dwell in my heart through faith. You want to firmly forever establish me in the certainty and security of Your unfathomable love for me. Growing in the knowledge of this love is the power that strengthens me and encourages me to keep pressing on and pressing in for more of You filling more of me every day. The power of this love is deeper, higher, wider, and longer than I will ever be able to fully comprehend, but not beyond my capacity to fully embrace, according to the faith-filled expectation of Paul's prophetic prayer for the Ephesians and for me. Lord, let Your Word keeping sinking in more deeply than ever before. Let the hope and faith of Your promise keeping rising up more higher than ever before. Don't let me ever let me become satisfied or stagnant, but always hungry for more -- more of this love, more of this power, more of this knowledge of Your heart and Your will for me. This is the cry of my heart as I prepare to enter into this new year. "Now to Him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever" (Ephesians 3:20-21). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I pray your heart will hunger and thirst for more of God dwelling in you as you prepare to enter into this new year. In the first 10 days of January 2009, many of us are sensing a call to try to spend as much of those days in prayer and worship as we can in the upper room of the presence of the Lord. Cornerstone International House of Prayer (CI-HoP) in Wilmore, Kentucky ( http://www.cornerstoneinternational.org/prayer/ ) will be joining with us to host a place for these days of prayer, starting Jan 5th leading up to our Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit set for January 9-10, 2009, hosted at Church of the Savior. Ray Hughes of Selah Ministries is coming Saturday night to share a word for Kentucky with us!( www.selahministries.com ). Send me a note if you're interested in joining in. And please keep us in prayer. God bless! Please Register Now for our next Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry (Level I & II) January 14-17, 2009 Registration and Information: ClickHere Equipping and Empowering Spiritual Leaders in Ministryto Proclaim the Kingdom of God, bind up the brokenhearted, and set the captives free in the name of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit Conference includes: * Lunches/snacks, materials (all four days) * Notebook with valuable teaching notes and other ministry material * Teaching, Equipping, & Impartation from a seasoned leadership team* Hands-on Interactive Participation in Prayer Ministry * Deep worship & incredible fellowship experiences with like-minded believers The Cost is $125.00, with partial scholarships available if necessary. (Please consider giving one for someone else if you can't come). Held at our home base in Lexington, Kentucky. Lodging is on your own but there may be a limited number of "Partner Homes" that will be available for lodging needs. Registration or Information: ClickHere 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 Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com Please Click Here to Order our Ministry Resources or Contribute On-Line

Let Every Day be Christmas 12-26-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are my Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. … "Precious treasure remains in the house of the wise, but the fool devours it" (Proverbs 21:20). All the bows are untied and all the boxes are opened. All the carols are sung and all the candles are snuffed. Christmas Day has come and gone, but the "Spirit of Christ" remains (Romans 8:9). You are the Precious Treasure. You are the Gift of God. You are Immanuel, God with us -- not for a day, but for forever. So let us live each day, celebrating the Gift of God within us, the Treasure entrusted forever to us. Let everyday be Christmas -- "Christ in (us), the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). Let every day be Christmas For every day You're with us Christ in us, the glory of God! In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Please Register Now for our next Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry (Level I & II) January 14-17, 2009 Registration and Information: ClickHere Equipping and Empowering Spiritual Leaders in Ministry to Proclaim the Kingdom of God, bind up the brokenhearted, and set the captives free in the name of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit Conference includes: * Lunches/snacks, materials (all four days) * Notebook with valuable teaching notes and other ministry material * Teaching, Equipping, & Impartation from a seasoned leadership team* Hands-on Interactive Participation in Prayer Ministry * Deep worship & incredible fellowship experiences with like-minded believers The Cost is $125.00, with partial scholarships available if necessary. (Please consider giving one for someone else if you can't come). Held at our home base in Lexington, Kentucky. Lodging is on your own but there may be a limited number of "Partner Homes" that will be available for lodging needs. Registration or Information: ClickHere In the first 10 days of January 2009, many of us are sensing a call to try to spend as much of those days in prayer and worship as we can in the upper room of the presence of the Lord. Cornerstone International House of Prayer (CI-HoP) in Wilmore, Kentucky ( http://www.cornerstoneinternational.org/prayer/ ) will be joining with us to host a place for these days of prayer leading up to our Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit set for January 9-10, 2009, hosted at Church of the Savior. Ray Hughes of Selah Ministries is coming Saturday night to share a word for Kentucky with us!( www.selahministries.com ). Send me a note if you're interested in joining in. And please keep us in prayer. God bless! 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 Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com Please Click Here to Order our Ministry Resources or Contribute On-Line

Born This Day 12-25-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Your birth in my world is my hope and peace and joy of my second birth in Yours. … "To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord" (Luke 2:11). This day my life is changed This day all things are rearranged This day I'll never be the same For this day is the day You were born for me This day all my sins are gone This day all souls can come home This day we'll never be alone For this day is the day You were born for me This day all heaven and earth proclaim This day we adore Your holy name This day in our hearts You rule and reign For this day is the day You were born for me On this day of giving we remember and rejoice in the One who has given so much to us. "God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting (our) trespasses against (us), and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us" (2 Corinthians 5:19). You are the Christ, our Messiah, the Anointed One of God, born in a manger to die on a cross so You could live forever in our hearts. Through Your birth we may all have our second birth -- birth into Christ and Christ birthed into us. "Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above" (John 3:3). On this day of worldwide celebration of Your birth, I thank You, Lord Jesus for being born from above in my world and in my heart. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Merry Christmas, my friends! I pray the Lord will continue to birth in you His Spirit and His passion for Him and His coming kingdom this coming year of 2009 as never before. Thank you for joining with me in the journey of prayer and passion for Jesus. God bless you and Merry Christmas! -- from your friend and fellow traveler, Tommy In the first 10 days of January 2009, many of us are sensing a call to try to spend as much of those days in prayer and worship as we can in the upper room of the presence of the Lord. Cornerstone International House of Prayer (CI-HoP) in Wilmore, Kentucky ( http://www.cornerstoneinternational.org/prayer/ ) will be joining with us to host a place for these days of prayer leading up to our Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit set for January 9-10, 2009, hosted at Church of the Savior. Ray Hughes of Selah Ministries is coming Saturday night to share a word for Kentucky with us!( www.selahministries.com ). Send me a note if you're interested in joining in. And please keep us in prayer. God bless! Come join us if you can for our next Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry (Level I and II) this January in Lexington. Write for details or register online. 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 Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com Please Click Here to Order our Ministry Resources or Contribute On-Line

Seek and Find Jesus 12-24-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Lord of the highest heaven, Lord of the lowest heart, Lord of everything in between, be Lord of everything in me today. … "When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 'Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us' " (Luke 2:15). Seeing the angels moved the shepherds to seek Jesus. They didn't worship the angels. They didn't build a shrine to their supernatural experience. They said, "Let us go. Let us see. Let us seek Jesus." That's the purpose of all supernatural, spiritual signs and wonders and encounters -- to move us to seek Jesus. Though the angel said, "I am bringing you good news," the shepherds knew the Source of the message (Luke 2:10). As stunning and amazing as their spiritual encounter was, their focus was not on the messengers, but on the One who sent the message. They knew it was the Lord who made known to them this "good news of great joy for all people." You are still making Your good news of great joy know to us. You are still sending Your heavenly messengers and inviting us into spiritual encounters and supernatural experiences. In fact, it seems there is a great increase in spiritual activity in our days. There is a growing hunger to both know the Truth and experience the Truth (John 8:32). But even so, You want both our knowledge and experience to always lead us to seek You. And like the shepherds, when we seek You with all our hearts, we will find You (Luke 2:16). Just as You have always promised those who would follow the signs and the leading of their hearts, "When you search for Me, you will find Me; if you seek Me with all your heart, I will let you find Me, says the Lord" (Jeremiah 29:13). Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays On this Christmas Eve of 2008, I pray the Lord will increase our passion to seek Him, know Him, and experience in this coming year of 2009 as never before. Thank you for joining with me in the journey of prayer and passion for Jesus. God bless you and Merry Christmas! -- from your friend and fellow traveler, Tommy In the first 10 days of January 2009, many of us are sensing a call to try to spend as much of those days in prayer and worship as we can in the upper room of the presence of the Lord. Cornerstone International House of Prayer (CI-HoP) in Wilmore, Kentucky ( http://www.cornerstoneinternational.org/prayer/ ) will be joining with us to host a place for these days of prayer leading up to our Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit set for January 9-10, 2009, hosted at Church of the Savior. Ray Hughes of Selah Ministries is coming Saturday night to share a word for Kentucky with us!( www.selahministries.com ). Send me a note if you're interested in joining in. And please keep us in prayer. God bless! 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 Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com Please Click Here to Order our Ministry Resources or Contribute On-Line

Angels We Have Seen on High … and in Hospitals 12-23-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Child of wonder, Child of light, Child who grew up and laid down Your life, come live Your life through Your Holy Spirit in me today. … "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, goodwill toward men!" (Luke 2:13-14, NKJV). Angels give glory to God. And they are often sent by God as messengers of Your love and power into our lives as worshippers, warriors, and witnesses of Your peace and goodwill toward the children of Your creation. "Are not all angels spirits of divine service, sent to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? (Hebrews 1:14) You send them to bear us up on angels' wings in ways we don't often see in the natural realm of all You are doing around us and for us in the spiritual realm (Psalm 91:11-12). And according to the news, You just sent an angel of Your glory to the pediatric intensive care unit of Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina. Since being born five weeks premature, Chelsea Banton endured chronic health problems all her life, spending much of it in the hospital. Just before her fifteenth birthday this coming Christmas Day, the doctor spoke to her mother the heartbreaking words, "We've done all we can do." And her mother, Colleen Banton had to make the heart-wrenching decision of removing the life support and releasing the spirit of her daughter to God. But as she prayed, it seems You sent an angel. The nurses at the desk kept seeing an image on the security monitor at the door. And the image, even being shown now on network television, seemed to even have wings. The nurses say the pediatric unit was suddenly filled with light. Instead of dying, Chelsea started getting better. Her mother took her home! She'll celebrate another birthday this Christmas Day. She says it's a miracle and the Today Show says she's been "touched by an angel." According to a Child Life Specialist in the unit, there were other miracle healing stories in the hospital as well -- a child with cancer healed, a boy with a skull fracture and brain injuries healed. Glory to God in the highest! We know the kingdom of God is not yet fully manifested on earth as it is heaven. But Your kingdom is coming more every day. Every little girl and boy is not yet healed every time their mothers pray, but heaven is invading earth and the kingdom of God is being made real in our lives more every day. You are sending Your angels and releasing Your power on earth as it is in heaven. The veil between the natural realm and the supernatural realm seems to be growing thinner each day. So instead of complaining about what You are not doing, we want to celebrate, with all the angels of heaven, what You are doing. Glory to God in the highest! Peace and goodwill toward men! Angels we have seen on high … Gloria in Excelsis Deo! In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, like you, I hope this news story proves to be real. I don't know anyone involved, but if you'd like to read more about this story from the blog of an eyewitness, here's one person's account of the story. http://www.cafemom.com/journals/read/1338525/A_real_angel_of_the_Lord_at_local_hospital_true_story 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 Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com

God's Word, God's Way 12-22-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Welcome into my day. Come lead me in Your way. … "Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the City of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a Child" (Luke 2:4-5). You declared long ago through Your prophetic Word that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). Those who studied Your Word could see and anticipate the things to come (Matthew 2:3-6). And in the fullness of time, You began to position people and events in alignment with Your Word and Your will. Yet, it was not an angel that sent Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem. It was not from an open vision in the heavenlies or a spiritual dream in their sleep. Neither was it from a burning bush or miraculous signs and wonders. It was from the decree of a pagan, prayer-less and God-less government enforcing its power and authority to control its subjects (Luke 2:1). Mary and Joseph didn't vote in this government, nor did they agree with its philosophies. But in the fullness of time, in Your ways that are always perfect, whether we have eyes to see it or not, Your Word and Your will came to pass. Just as You had said, the holy Child to come as Messiah and King, was born in the manger at Bethlehem (Luke 2:7). Position me, Lord. Align the relationships and events of my life to fulfill Your prophetic word for me. You see the end from the beginning and the beginning from the end. Though we have freedom to make our choices, You are also actively involved in every event and You know eternally every choice we will ever make. "For it is You who formed my inward parts; You knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise You for I am fearfully and wonderfully made… Your eyes beheld my unformed substance. In Your book were written all the days that were formed for me, when none of them as yet existed" (Psalm 139:13-16). So I need not fear the powers and authorities of this age, nor the motives and choices of the governments of man. My God is in control. My God sees the end from the beginning and the beginning from the end. "And indeed, it was very good" (Genesis 1:31). Every word of Your eternal prophecies for me and for all the children of Your creation will come to pass, all in Your perfect timing and in Your perfect way (Revelation 22:6). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I pray the hope of things to come will be birthed in your spirits in these days of celebrating the coming of our Savior. May the Lord align all your relationships and events with His purposes for your life in this coming season. God bless you and Merry Christmas! 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 Daily Archives: http://www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com/

"We Wish to See Jesus" 12-19-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Before looking to anyone else, I look to You. Before listening for anyone else, I listen for You. Let me see You and hear You. Let me be moved and led by Your Spirit to let You live through me so that others may be moved and led to You today. … "Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Phillip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, 'Sir, we wish to see Jesus.' Phillip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered the, 'The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified' " (John 12:20-23). This time of year, there are many festivals. We call them "Christmas parties." Or at least we used to; now we call them 'Holiday parties' because we're so often afraid to say the name of Jesus or Christ in public. But this is a time of year for the Son of Man to be glorified. This is a time of year when we should wish to see Jesus. And Lord, what glorifies You most is when we stop and look to see Jesus long enough so that others can look to see Jesus living in us. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, Tonight please come join us and bring a friend following The Fountain (December 19th) for our Messiah Ministries Christmas Reception to celebrate the season and our Savior with fun and food together. All are welcome! If you think you're coming, please let Lisa know at 859-543-0658 to help us plan the desserts. Come to The Fountain Tonight! -- the 3rd Friday night of every month -- for our ministry's citywide gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream for prayer, praise, and healing worship. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary, 2800 Tates Creek Rd in Lexington. Laura Beach will be sharing some of her journey. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 or send a note to Marilyn at DirOfMinistries@aol.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 Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com

Honoring Our Pastor 12-18-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I honor You and thank You for Your leading in my life. … "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away -- and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know My own and My own know Me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father. And I lay down My life for the sheep" (John 10:11-15). Last night we honored my pastor and his wife, David and Karen Thomas, and their family for twelve years of leadership and love at our home church, now coming to a close. We remembered and celebrated all You have done through them among us, as You have been shepherding Your flock through their hands and hearts. The testimonies of souls saved and lives changed are forever recorded in Your book of life and sealed in our hearts. Like the good shepherd, they have been willing to know us and allow us to know them, as we have all grown in our desire to know and follow You. And they gave all glory and honor to You, their good shepherd. It was humbling to remember so many of the ways they have willingly, sacrificially laid down their lives for the sheep You entrusted to their care. And it's even more humbling to know there have been so many other sacrifices in their labor of love we'll never know. Yet it was thrilling to recount the mighty moves of God we've seen in our midst as we've grown toward the vision of becoming "a kingdom church" -- a community of believers seeking the coming of Your kingdom in our lives and through our lives in Your transformation of our community and our world. May that vision You cast through their leadership continue to come to pass. As Karen said, according to the promise of Your Word, "I am confident of this, that the One who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Christ" (Philippians 1:6). You will continue to be the good shepherd of David and Karen's journey in this next season of life and ministry. He'll be able to follow the leading of his heart to study the overwhelming grace of God poured into the hungry hearts of a people who are desperate for Him. May you continue to pour into him, so he can pour into Your church in the advance of Your kingdom, as You continue to equip him and empower him for spiritual leadership in the seasons to come. May you continue to pour into Karen as she leads in their home and on the board of Asbury Theological Seminary in fulfillment of the kingdom vision "to prepare and send forth a well-trained, sanctified, Spirit-filled, evangelistic ministry to spread scriptural holiness throughout the world." In our hearts and in theirs, we know You will be faithful to bring to completion all You have begun. Thank You for the gift of coming alongside one another in the journey toward the vision of Your kingdom. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Register Now for our next Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry (Level I & II)January 14-17, 2009 Equipping and Empowering Spiritual Leaders in Ministry to Proclaim the Kingdom of God, bind up the brokenhearted, and set the captives free in the name of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit Conference includes: * Lunches/snacks, materials (all four days)* Notebook with valuable teaching notes and other ministry material* Teaching, Equipping, & Impartation from a seasoned leadership team * Hands-on Interactive Participation in Prayer Ministry* Deep worship & incredible fellowship experiences with like-minded believersThe Cost is $125.00, with partial scholarships available if necessary. (Please consider giving one for someone else if you can't come). Held at our home base in Lexington, Kentucky. Lodging is on your own but there may be a limited number of "Partner Homes" that will be available for lodging needs. REGISTRATION or Information: LeftClickHere Friends, please come join us following The Fountain This Friday Night(December 19th) for our Messiah Ministries Christmas Reception to celebrate the season and our Savior with fun and food together. All are welcome! To help us plan, Please RSVP to Lisa at mmeventassist@aol.com or 859-543-0658 Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's citywide gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream for prayer, praise, and healing worship. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary, 2800 Tates Creek Rd in Lexington. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 or send a note to Marilyn at DirOfMinistries@aol.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 Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com Please Click Here to Contribute or Order our Ministry Resources On-Line

Simplicity of Life, Hidden with Christ 12-17-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I simply come and silently wait in the stillness of surrender in the beginning of this new day. … "If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the universe, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations, 'Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch?' All these regulations refer to things that perish with use; they are simply human commands and teachings. These indeed have an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-imposed piety, humility, and severe treatment of the body, but they are of no value, serving only to indulge the flesh. So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God" (Colossians 2:20 - 3:3). Simplicity of life, hidden with Christ: More of Him, less of me More of His ways, less of mine More of His wise will, less of my self will More dependence on Him, less dependence on me More of His increase, more of my decrease More of His speaking, more of my listening More of His leading, more of my following More deeply surrendered, more filled with faith More shaking in the world, more steadiness in my soul More darker the days, more brighter His light More treacherous the journey, more tighter the grip More challenging my circumstances, more greater the chance to see His glory More complicated my life, more certain my need to simply trust in Him It's just that simple. Yes, Lord. Thank You for writing this simple strategy into my mind and taking time to patiently weave it into the DNA of my soul. Let it be so unto me as You have said: "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. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in Me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from Me, you can do nothing" (John 15:4-5). By the mercy of Your grace and the power of Your love, I need not ever be apart from You, but ever abiding in You as You abide in me. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Register Now for our next Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry (Level I & II)January 14-17, 2009 Equipping and Empowering Spiritual Leaders in Ministry to Proclaim the Kingdom of God, bind up the brokenhearted, and set the captives free

in the name of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit Conference includes: * Lunches/snacks, materials (all four days)* Notebook with valuable teaching notes and other ministry material* Teaching, Equipping, & Impartation from a seasoned leadership team * Hands-on Interactive Participation in Prayer Ministry* Deep worship & incredible fellowship experiences with like-minded believersThe Cost is $125.00, with partial scholarships available if necessary. (Please consider giving one for someone else if you can't come). Held at our home base in Lexington, Kentucky. Lodging is on your own but there may be a limited number of "Partner Homes" that will be available for lodging needs.

REGISTRATION or Information: LeftClickHere Friends, please come join us following The Fountain This Friday Night (December 19th) for our Messiah Ministries Christmas Reception to celebrate the season and our Savior with fun and food together. All are welcome! To help us plan, Please RSVP to Lisa at mmeventassist@aol.com or 859-543-0658 Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's citywide gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream for prayer, praise, and healing worship. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary, 2800 Tates Creek Rd in Lexington. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 or send a note to Marilyn at DirOfMinistries@aol.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 Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com Please Click Here to Contribute or Order our Ministry Resources On-Line

Settle for Nothing Less than More 12-16-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I seek You. … "Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Messiah" (Luke 2:25-26). By Your Holy Spirit, Simeon sought You with every breath of life. With the sunrise of each new day, he woke with a passion to seek You, looking forward to the One who would come to comfort his people and satisfy the hunger of his soul. Morning by morning, he would open up his heart and lift up his eyes to seek the One he longed to see. With each passing day, he sought You more, he hungered for more, he thirsted for more. He would settle for nothing less than the manifest presence of the Lord's Messiah. And so do I. I know You, but I want to know You more. I have found You, but I want to find You more. I have seen You, but I want to see You more. And I believe, by the moving of Your Spirit who rests upon me and rises up within me, I always will. I'll never settle for less than more. "But I will hope continually, and will praise You yet more and more" (Psalm 71:14). With holy desperation, I will pray unceasingly and seek unreservedly to abound in my love and longing for You, yet "more and more" (Philippians 1:9). As in the story of the Song of Solomon, I will passionately seek the One whom my soul loves (Song of Solomon 3:1). As in the inspiration of the determination of Bartimaeus, I will cry out all the more loudly (Mark 10:48). And as in the witness of the passion of Simeon, I will settle for nothing less than more, nothing less than the manifest presence of my Savior and Messiah. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please come join us following The Fountain This Friday Night(December 19th) for our Messiah Ministries Christmas Reception to celebrate the season and our Savior with fun and food together. All are welcome! To help us plan, Please RSVP to Lisa at mmeventassist@aol.com or 859-543-0658 Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's citywide gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream for prayer, praise, and healing worship. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary, 2800 Tates Creek Rd in Lexington. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 or send a note to Marilyn at DirOfMinistries@aol.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 Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com Please Click Here to Contribute or Order our Ministry Resources On-Line

3 Days Left at Amazon.com to Send Tommy's Devotional Book, Morning by Morning, for Christmas

Friends, Please click the link below if you'd like to send my Morning Prayer Devotional Book, Morning by Morning, as a Christmas Gift through Amazon.com: Amazon.com: Morning by Morning: A Prayer Journey with Tommy Hays: Tommy Hays: Books These morning prayers are written to start each day Embraced by the Father, Centered on Jesus, and Filled with the Holy Spirit through a daily walk of deeper intimacy with God. God bless you and Merry Christmas! Tommy www.messiah-ministries.org

Hope of the Dawn of Light 12-15-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I enter into the holy of holies of prayer through the blood of the Lamb. … "By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace" (Luke 1:78-79). In the darkness of our souls, we long for light. In the deadness of our spirits, we long for life. But You are our "bright morning star" who breaks forth like the dawn no matter how dark our days may seem (Revelation 22:16). "For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light" (Psalm 36:9). You are our "Prince of Peace" who steps down into our darkness to steady our thoughts, remind us of Your presence, and guide our feet into the way of Your peace (Isaiah 9:6). This is the unfailing love and tender mercy of our God, our Emmanuel -- "God with us." Long before Your first coming as the Child of Promise, You spoke through Your prophet to a people who needed hope of a Savior and Messiah to come. One day the One who would lead in the way of peace would arise and come from "Galilee of the nations" (Isaiah 9:1). He would come to lift "the yoke of their burden" and break "the rod of their oppressor" (Isaiah 9:4). One day the light of their hope would break forth into the dawn of their lives, as Your prophetic message was fulfilled. "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great Light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness -- on them Light has shined" (Isaiah 9:2). Lord Jesus, Messiah, You are that Light. You are "the Light of the world" (John 8:12). The prophecy has now come to pass and the hope of Your presence always among us is now fulfilled. Your light breaks into our darkness every day. Your power is available to lift our burdens and break our oppression every day, as we look up to Your light and open up to Your peace. "So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts" (2 Peter 1:19). By the tender mercy of God, we have seen Your great Light; and on each of us, Your Light has shined. "For it is the God who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:6). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please come join us following The Fountain This Friday Night(December 19th) for our Messiah Ministries Christmas Reception to celebrate the season and our Savior with fun and food together. All are welcome! To help us plan, Please RSVP to Lisa by December 12th at mmeventassist@aol.com or 859-543-0658 Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's citywide gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream for prayer, praise, and healing worship. 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 or send a note to Marilyn at DirOfMinistries@aol.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 Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com Please Click Here to Contribute or Order our Ministry Resources On-Line

Emmanuel, God with Us in Spirit and Truth 12-12-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Emmanuel, God with us, come be with me throughout my day. … "An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, 'Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the Child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son, and you are to name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.' All this was took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 'Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and they shall name Him Emmanuel,' which means, 'God is with us' " (Matthew 1:20-23). Angels, dreams, miracles, prophecy -- the foundation of our faith in a God who loves us and lives among us is saturated in the supernatural. The Word of God makes no room for a faith apart from the reality of His spiritual realm actively coexisting with His physical realm. Any faith devoid of the reality and expectation of the supernatural is a false faith; any teaching that denies the reality of the spiritual realm is a false teaching; and any doctrine that denies the reality of God's heavenly dimension actively intertwined with His earthly dimension is a false doctrine. True Christian faith cannot be expressed or experienced apart from faith in a supernatural, spiritual reality. "We look not at what can be seen, but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:18). Especially in our western culture, we need Your grace to obey the command of Your Word to embrace the priority of a spiritual perspective. "So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:1-3). Despite Your perspective, our culture has invaded the western church, insisting upon its own perspective -- denying the reality of the spiritual realm, mocking miracles and mocking a faith founded and filled with angels, dreams, miracles, and prophecy. If we are to experience the fullness of our faith, to embrace the fulfillment of Your Word in our lives, to see Your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven, this worldly, western perspective must change. The stronghold of unbelief must come down. And true faith must arise. You alone are "the King of the Ages, immortal, invisible, the only God" (1 Timothy 1:17). You are a supernatural God seeking a people with supernatural faith. "And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6). Lord, open the eyes of our hearts to be "enlightened" to see You as you truly are (Ephesians 1:18). Awaken our human spirits to arise and embrace the reality of Your Holy Spirit and Your spiritual realm with Your spiritual perspective. Our faith is in God who is with us -- "in Spirit and in Truth" for "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:23-24). Lord Jesus, You are "the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in (You) all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers -- all things have been created through (You) and for (You)" (Colossians 1:15-16). You are Emmanuel, God with us. Give us a firm and true faith that You are with us in things visible and invisible, in the natural realm and the supernatural realm, in every dimension of our lives. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please come join us following The Fountain this month (December 19th) for our Messiah Ministries Christmas party to celebrate the season and our Savior with fun and food together. All are welcome! Please RSVP to Lisa by December 12th at mmeventassist@aol.com or 859-543-0658 Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's citywide gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream for prayer, praise, and healing worship. 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 or send a note to Marilyn at DirOfMinistries@aol.com Save the date of January 9-10 for our Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit which we'll be hosting again in Lexington this year. Ray Hughes of Selah Ministries is coming Saturday night to share a word for Kentucky with us!( www.selahministries.com ) Friends, as the Lord leads, please remember Messiah Ministries in your year-end giving. We raise all our own support to fulfill our calling in Christ of "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" according to our foundation Scripture of Isaiah 61. Month by month for 12 years of ministry, we have always found our God to be faithful. Thank you for being a part of that with your prayers, encouragement, and provision! Please call or write if you have any questions about our vision or needs, or if you would like to introduce me to speak to someone you think may have a heart for what the Lord is doing through our ministry. God bless you! -- Tommy 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 Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com Please Click Here to Contribute or Order our Ministry Resources On-Line

The Conception and The Cross 12-11-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. O come, let us adore You. … "When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, 'Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.' " (Luke 1:41-42). My seminary professor of evangelism, Bob Tuttle, used to always say, "Jesus' suffering didn't begin at the cross; His suffering began in the womb." We can't really even begin to imagine what You sacrificed to willingly set aside the glory of heaven to humble Yourself to be conceived as the Son of Man in the womb of a woman to be "born in human likeness" (Philippians 2:6-8). The extravagance of Your gift of love for us is beyond our comprehension. But there could be no reconciliation without the cross; and there could be no cross without the conception. "But God proves His love for us in that while we still were sinners, Christ died for us .... We were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, we will be saved by His life" (Romans 5:8-10). And because You were willing to fill Mary's womb, we can now, like Elizabeth, be "filled with the Holy Spirit." Like the child in Elizabeth's womb who "leaped for joy" in Your Presence, we can leap for joy in the love of God that now fills our souls with Your peace and goodwill, comfort and joy (Luke 1:44). "God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly" (Romans 5:5-6). Thank You, Lord Jesus, for the gift of Your conception and Your cross. Thank You for the joy of filling us and baptizing us with Your Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11). Thank You for reconciling us to God, through Your birth, Your death, and Your life now living in us (Galatians 2:20). May You be filled forever with the joy of knowing Your sufferings were not in vain. We joyfully embrace Your unimaginable, incomprehensible Gift of God. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, following The Fountain this month (December 19th), we will have our Messiah Ministries Christmas party to celebrate the season and our Savior with fun and food together. So please come join us. All are welcome! Please RSVP to Lisa by December 12th at mmeventassist@aol.com or 859-543-0658 Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's citywide gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream for prayer, praise, and healing worship. 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 or send a note to Marilyn at DirOfMinistries@aol.com Save the date of January 9-10 for our Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit which we'll be hosting again in Lexington this year. Ray Hughes of Selah Ministries is coming Saturday night to share a word for Kentucky with us!( www.selahministries.com ) Friends, as the Lord leads, please remember Messiah Ministries in your year-end giving. We raise all our own support to fulfill our calling in Christ of "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" according to our foundation Scripture of Isaiah 61. Month by month for 12 years of ministry, we have always found our God to be faithful. Thank you for being a part of that with your prayers, encouragement, and provision! Please call or write if you have any questions about our vision or needs, or if you would like to introduce me to speak to someone you think may have a heart for what the Lord is doing through our ministry. God bless you! -- Tommy 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 Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com Please Click Here to Contribute or Order our Ministry Resources On-Line

"And Now …" 12-10-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. One with the Father, one with the Holy Spirit, come be one in me. … "In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, 'Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you…. Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a Son, and you will call Him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord will give Him the throne of His ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end…. The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the Child to be born will be holy; and He will be called Son of God' " (Luke 1:26-35). Gabriel told Mary not to be afraid because she had "found favor with God." Knowing Your favor -- knowing Your presence, Your peace, and Your pleasure with us as Your children -- should calm our hearts and steady our minds from all fear. Your favor is a reflection of Your love. "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear" (1 John 4:18). When we know You are with us in Your love, we need not fear. You will bring us through whatever we may face. And in the favor of God, the angel said "and now" Mary would conceive in her womb the purposes of God for the calling and destiny of her life: "For you have found favor with God. And now …." It's only in Your favor that we can fulfill our purpose, calling, and destiny. It's only in Your favor that we have any purpose or calling or destiny. Because Mary "found favor with God" so that the Son of the Most High, the Son of God, could be conceived by the Holy Spirit of the Living God in her human womb, we can all find favor with God. We all have favor with God through the willing sacrifice and perfect love of this holy Child. "And now" we can all be overshadowed by the Holy Spirit, who can conceive and birth in us the plans and purposes of God for each of our lives. In the favor of Your present and perfect love, we will not fear; we will fulfill our destiny in Christ. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, as the Lord leads, please remember Messiah Ministries in your year-end giving. We raise all our own support to fulfill our calling in Christ of "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" according to our foundation Scripture of Isaiah 61. Month by month for 12 years of ministry, we have always found our God to be faithful. Thank you for being a part of that with your prayers, encouragement, and provision! God bless you, my friend and favored one in Christ! -- Tommy Friends, following The Fountain this month (December 19th), we will have our Messiah Ministries Christmas party to celebrate the season and our Savior with fun and food together. So please come join us. All are welcome! Please RSVP to Lisa by December 12th at mmeventassist@aol.com or 859-543-0658 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 for prayer, praise, and healing worship. 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 or send a note to Marilyn at DirOfMinistries@aol.com Save the date of January 9-10 for our Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit which we'll be hosting again in Lexington this year. 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 Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com Please Click Here to Contribute or Order our Ministry Resources On-Line

Season of Preparation 12-9-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Come live in me today. … "But the angel said to him, 'Do not be afraid Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. You wife Elizabeth will bear you a son and you will name him John…. He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before Him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord' " (Luke 1:13-17). Before the angel appeared to Mary and Joseph, the angel appeared to Zechariah. Before the coming of the Messiah came the one with the spirit and power of Elijah to prepare the way for His coming. And just as You prepared Your people for Your first coming, so You are preparing Your people for Your second coming. Christmas season speaks of this season of preparation -- a season "to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." And how do we prepare? We turn our hearts to You and to one another, from disobedience to righteousness, from looking inward to ourselves to looking forward to You. And one day soon, You will come in glory in the skies. But every day before then, You want to come in glory in our hearts. Let us know by faith Your angels are here among us, helping prepare Your servants and proclaiming Your coming. Let us turn our hearts to You and one another. Let us be a people prepared for coming of the Lord our God. "Righteousness will go before Him, and will make a path for His steps" (Psalm 85:13). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, following The Fountain this month (December 19th), we will have our Messiah Ministries Christmas party to celebrate the season and our Savior with fun and food together. So please come join us. All are welcome! Please RSVP to Lisa by December 12th at mmeventassist@aol.com or 859-543-0658 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 for prayer, praise, and healing worship. 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 or send a note to Marilyn at DirOfMinistries@aol.com Save the date of January 9-10 for our Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit which we'll be hosting again in Lexington this year. 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 Please Click Here to Order our Ministry Resources On-Line Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com