Dear family in Christ,

I apologize for the lack of updates in 2022. It was kind of a rough year for me in some ways. I faced a number of challenges, many of which I did not handle well. I set out at the beginning of 2022 to continue developing this site and to record some much-needed content for the church; regretfully, I was derailed from this purpose early in the year, and I allowed it to happen. However, the Lord has been gracious to me, encouraging me through several brethren (including a recent visit from Brother Adam!) and teaching me some important spiritual lessons, which I look forward to sharing with you all, by God's grace.

As I reflect on the past year, one of the things that stands out to me is that I had set out to serve the Lord in my capacity with a true heart, but I endeavored to do it alone. While there are certain things that we must do alone with God, the Christian life is not one of isolation or self-sufficiency. Moses could lift his hands up against the Amalekites, to give victory to the people of God; but others were needed to hold his hands up so that he didn't fail (Exodus 17:10-13). The Lord has put on my heart that I need to start opening myself up to others, beginning with asking for prayer. I realized that I have very rarely asked others for prayer. I have thought too often of myself as someone strong, someone with the answer, someone to help others in their struggles. It may be that it is my ministry, or partly so, to hold up my hands against the Amalekites, to speak the word of God to the strengthening of the Lord's army. But I'm in need of others to hold my own hands up, heavenward, lest my hands should become heavy, weary in well doing, and slump down to the things of the earth again.

Pray for me, therefore, that the Lord would connect me to others who have a sincere desire to walk worthy of his calling; and that others would, being illuminated by the word of truth, repent to such a desire. And pray for me to remember those who have already been put into my life, that I would not neglect to seek the Lord's will for me toward them.

Thank you, brethren.

- Brother Ray