Ray Family Update from December 2014

Dear Praying Friends,

As we approach the time of our son Isaac’s birth, I am reminded of John 16:21, “A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.” The next week will, no doubt, be filled with pains and difficulties for my wife, but all the anguish will give way to joy when we see Isaac. In like manner, this life currently brings its sorrows and anguish, but it will be swallowed up in joy when we see Jesus Christ. Until then, we are to occupy (Luke 19:13). When seemingly the entire world slows down for the holidays, we remain busy in the Lord’s work.

The Work Accomplished

We rejoice to see the first volume of devotions in print. However, there is no time to rest as we have already moved through the first ten weeks of the next volume. Additionally, I have been working with Brother Stauffer on a number of articles on prophecy that will be printed in national publications. In the early part of December, we finished up another course in the Antioch Baptist Bible Institute. Including worship services and institute classes, Philippians became the thirteenth book of the Bible I have taught through verse-by-verse. In addition to this, there are the Sunday school lessons taught, Sunday school outlines prepared for the teachers, and ten sermons preached.

We have been somewhat quiet on the songbook work, but it continues to progress. This month I have been blessed to review a good number of songs that are already familiar. This research often affords two great opportunities for blessing: (1) learning of additional verses that have been left out of modern songbooks, or (2) learning of history associated with a song that I did not previously know. This month, Sweet Hour of Prayer yielded both. The song was written by W. W. Walford, a blind preacher. He had such a reputation for knowing the scriptures that he was said to know “the whole Bible by heart.” At times he would attempt poetry, but having no man to commit them to paper, he would commit them to memory. On one occasion, he was visited by a friend and fearfully submitted the lines of Sweet Hour of Prayer, asking, “How will this do?” How I rejoice that he overcame his fears and recited the words to be copied! The following second verse is often omitted.

Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer!
The joy I feel, the bliss I share
Of those whose anxious spirits burn
With strong desire for thy return!
With such I hasten to the place
Where God, my Saviour, shows his face,
And gladly take my station there,
To wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

The Work Ahead

I thank the Lord for the opportunity to be in the ministry full time. As such, I strive to stay busy, refusing to let the grass grow under my feet. Truthfully, I often set goals that are unattainable. In the immediate future, I would appreciate your prayers as I continue to press forward on the devotions for volume two as well as the songbook work and prophetic writing with Brother Stauffer. Additionally, though I have attempted to avoid the subject altogether, it is becoming increasingly obvious that I need to write on marriage. Among other reasons, I have avoided the task because of my own inadequacies (youth and inexperience). However, there is a great dearth on the subject for those who want material that is scripturally based. Also this coming month, I will be preaching at Bible Baptist Church in Deland, Florida.

Prayer Requests

* Wisdom (for writing, preaching, and counseling)
* Spiritual power for the ministry
* Health for Lula and Isaac