LORD OF THE SABBATH - Glorify yourself as we seek to rest in the Lord from our labors this weekend and continue to bless the study and dialogue that Dr. Bray is engaged in with leaders in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Help us to put our trust in you in all things and prepare Bill and Ivy for work this next week on the Exodus Mandate to promote Christian schools and Christian parents who home school their children in the USA and around the world. AMEN

MIGHTY GOD -- Be with Dr. Bill Bray as he meets with Louis Kramp, key businessmen and Christian mission leaders in Grand Rapids, Michigan this weekend. Show us YOUR will, YOUR way, YOUR promises and give light on the pathway that the Bray Missionaries should be traveling. Reveal to us a common vision for the future of the Brays and your will for the nations. Be with Ivy as she remains in Columbus to continue work on arrangements and invitations for the Bray's Silver Wedding Anniversary in Williamsburg, Virginia on August 5. AMEN and AMEN and AMEN!

JEHOVAH-JIREH - Thank you for providing the Brays with one office work station and computer in our Columbus cottage. AMEN

LORD OF HOSTS - We pray that you will provide the wiring and installation of a second computer work station and a second complete office in Columbus so that both Bill and Ivy can work to full capacity. Especially provide Bill with an urgently needed lap top computer before his Let Muslims See Jesus short-term mission tour next month in Europe. AMEN and AMEN

SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK: "I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39).

LIGHT OF THE GENTILES...Thank you for the endless hours of prayer and faith-work that Ivy puts into making this mission successful. We thank you for her tremendous attention to details and incredible focus on tasks and services to Dr. Bill's every need spiritually, emotionally and physically. We thank you for giving her a heart of compassion for the Philippines and Filipinos everywhere. AMEN

MY MAKER...Help Ivy as she handles details of emerging ministry events for the rest of 2007 including short term missions to Africa, Europe, India and other destinations...the CIS Family Week 2007 in Williamsburg...and services to indigenous ministry clients and causes. Supply her with the funds needed to pay bills as well as new computers, equipment and software. Attract to her volunteers and give her the grace and people skills needed to manage them. AMEN and AMEN

VERSE OF THE WEEK: "I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39).

THINE HUSBAND and HEAD OF THE BODY - Thank you for calling us all into your body, the fellowship of the saints. Thank you for our mutual empathy, applied faith, prayers and support for each other. Thank you for their regular support to your work through the Bray Family Missionaries. AMEN.

PHYSICIAN - Keep the Bray Family and their supporters in divine health today and especially help Bill and Ivy as they write and mail out the April communications all this week. AMEN and AMEN

VERSE OF THE WEEK: "I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present for the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39).

ADONAI, God Almighty - You have blessed and entrusted us with children and we thank you for Christian churches and missions that sponsor all kinds of outreaches to help parents train them up in the way they should go. AMEN

OVERCOMER - Use the Bray Family Missionaries and every one of us in this prayer fellowship to help missions that reach out to children in Haiti, Jamaica and the Caribbean islands. AMEN

VERSE OF THE WEEK: "But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; the weak things of the world to shame the strong" (I Corinthians 1:27).

JEHOVAH-JIREH, we thank you for our growing number of friends in Chicago, especially the new ones who pledged to Bray Support or promised to help the Philippines Mercy Mission during our visit there last month. PRAISE YOU, LORD!

REFINER, bless all our friends and supporters in the Chicago-area and especially confirm those who have made new decisions to join the Prayer and Support Team...to come to Williamsburg for our Silver Wedding Anniversary...and to help expand the number of partners in the midwest. AMEN and AMEN and AMEN

VERSE OF THE WEEK: "But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong" (I Corinthians 1:27).

JEHOVAH SHALOM we praise you as the source of our healing, peace, prosperity and wellness. AMEN

PROPHET MIGHTY IN WORD AND DEED, we ask you to anoint Bill and Ivy today as they report and speak to the St. Francis Fund board in downtown Columbus and we pray also for Inez Kramp as she has heart surgery in Washington. Supply us with all we need for life and health. AMEN and AMEN

SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK: "But God chose the foollish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong" (I Corinthians 1:27).

JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH, The One Who is There - We thank you for your constant comfort, guidance and presense in our lives and for the many friends who are encouraging us and praying for us. AMEN

MIGHTY GOD, MORNING STAR - Guide us in making plans for the future. Through the sale of our house or in other ways, show us clearly if you want us to stay in Columbus or move elsewhere. Either way, we ask you to increase our favor with local pastors and enlarge the number of Prayer Partners and Supporters in the churches of Georgia. AMEN and AMEN

VERSE OF THE WEEK: "But God chose the fooolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong" (I Corinthians 1:27).

JEHOVAH JIREH...Thank you for providing protection and a strong calling on the life of Jon Bray who turns 22 today while on an east coast and midwest musical tour. AMEN

PURIFIER AND REWARDER...Bless Jon on his birthday today, giving him protection and birthing within him a passion to follow hard after you. May his heart always be a flame of fire and love for your word and may no snare of the enemy be able to capture him. AMEN

VERSE OF THE WEEK: "But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong" (I Corinthians 1:27).

JEHOVAH NISSI, GOD MY BANNER -- Thank you Lord for leading us into right decisions about the missions we should undertake in 2007...if we should move from Georgia and when...and in every other critical detail of our lives. We trust you Lord to go before us. PRAISE YOU, AMEN.

SCEPTRE -- Help us to extend the Kingdom of God and your rule into all the nations through the CommonTrust concept. Help the leaders of the CT Development Foundation and others to agree with us this week about the details of our working arrangement with them. AMEN and AMEN.

VERSE OF THE WEEK: 'But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong' (I Corinthians 1:27).

SPIRIT OF GLORY, we praise and thank you for what you are doing in Ukraine and throughout Europe to let the Gospel be heard in word and deed. Thank you for Slavik and other indigenous missionaries who are raising children in the Lord through children's homes and orphanages. HALLELUJAH, AMEN!

ROCK OF MY SALVATION, use native missionaries to rescue more orphans and abandoned children throughout Ukraine, and use the Bray Family's 2007 LET EUROPE HEAR mission survey trips to transform churches, families and nations on the continent. AMEN AND AMEN

VERSE OF THE WEEK: "But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong" (I Corinthians 1:27).

JEHOVAH NESSI, OUR BANNER...We praise and thank you for protecting Billy Bray from long-term injury during a robbery attempt last week at his mall job and for the ongoing protection you provide to the Bray boys as they study, work and travel out of Charlottesville. AMEN

JEHOVAH ROPHE, OUR HEALER...We ask in the name of Jesus, that you heal and restore Billy's leg so that he can work again and quickly return to normal life. Help Dr. Bray to provide wisdom and guidance to younger men in his writing and all other ministries. AMEN

VERSE OF THE WEEK: "Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed" (Psalm 82:3).

BREATH OF THE LORD...thank you for calling us to be involved in the work of collecting funds to send out the Gospel of Christ to renew more minds, thus transforming individuals and nations. AMEN

SPIRIT OF COUNSEL AND POWER...use Dr. Bray's writing of involvement letters and Ivy's donor relations service team to spur joyful giving and greater sacrifice to reach the nations. Help us make generosity more fun and rewarding to your people. AMEN and AMEN

VERSE OF THE WEEK: 'Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed' (Psalm 82:3).

SPIRIT OF LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS...we thank you today that we are not alone on your mission but surrounded by angels, the body of Christ, directors, families, friends and partners who pray and help guide us on our journies. AMEN

UPHOLDER OF ALL THINGS...help and guide the CIS Board as they meet this week for their Annual Meeting to help discern the direction of the Bray ministry for the year ahead. AMEN

VERSE OF THE WEEK: "Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed" (Psalm 82:3).

MY SHEPHERD...we join together to praise you for the rescue workers in Romania and throughout Southeast Asia who are working to save children from sexual slavery and abuse. AMEN

ROSE OF SHARON...intervene in the lives of Bill and Ivy and help them to find ways to reduce their cost of living and expenses in creative ways. AMEN

VERSE OF THE WEEK: "Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed" (Psalm 82:3).

COUNSELOR...thank you for Louis Kramp and the CommonTrust approach to sharing redemption and healing both invididually and collectively. AMEN

SON OF GOD...grant Bill and Ivy new wisdom and spritutal gifts to think creatively as servant leaders to the global hunger task force. Give them wisdom as they write and publish this coming week. AMEN AND AMEN

VERSE OF THE WEEK: "Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed" (Psalm 82:3).

SPIRIT OF CREATION AND RENEWAL, we thank you for modern communications and membership management tools such as laptop computers, data base software, and Vista personal computers. AMEN

SIGN, we ask you to provide Dr. Bill with a Vista lap top computer to use in his writing ministry and for Ivy a Vista-equipped computer work-station with a powerful membership database. AMEN and AMEN

VERSE OF THE WEEK: "O tarry and await the Lord's pleasure; be strong, and he shall comfort you heart; wait patiently for the Lord" (Psalm 27:14).

HEAD OF THE BODY, we thank you for pastors and friends at local churches and other groups in Georgia and the South who are praying for the Bray Family in their missionary work to the Philippines and to indigenous leaders at home and abroad. AMEN

STRONG ROCK, we pray that you will open many more doors for Bill and Ivy to speak in churches, chapels, service clubs and other groups in the South. As a result, we ask that many new prayer partners and friends will to back the Bray's new ministry to leaders. AMEN

VERSE OF THE WEEK: "O tarry and await the Lord's pleasure; be strong, and he shall comfort your heart; wait patiently for the Lord" (Psalm 27:14).

POWER OF THE LORD, thank you for calling out and ordaining leaders who are recognized by people and can attract followings to solve problems like global hunger, disasters, disease, child abuse and a host of other mental, spiritual and physical problems. AMEN

BREAD OF LIFE, help and inspire Dr. Bill as he is interacting with national advisors and writing the international Agricultural Resource Center plan for CommonTrust leaders who are tackling the problem of global hunger. AMEN

SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK: 'O tarry and await the Lord's pleasure; be strong, and he shall comfort your heart; wait patiently for the Lord' (Psalm 27:14).

DEPOSIT and SEAL, we thank you for the Philippine Mercy Mission donations that have already helped rebuild 20 ruined churches, assist 88 missionary families, and repair 5 mission stations. PRAISE THE LORD!

TRIED STONE, speak to those who have already given large and small grants and burden them to give again. Bless our efforts to find new people to donate, both for the Philippines emergency and for Bray Family Support. May another $15,000 to be supplied to rebuild destroyed churches in the Bicol region. AMEN

SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK: "O tarry and await the Lord's pleasure; be strong, and he shall comfort your heart; wait patiently for the Lord" (Psalm 27:14).

GREAT AND AWESOME GOD, we thank you for men and women of higher vision who answer to a higher authority, who lead and mentor your people to better conform to your covenants, statutes and wisdom. AMEN.

SHILOH, continue to use Louis as he mentors Dr. Bray in your Kingdom ways of dealing with leaders, and Billy as he works with Michael on his job and career search in Charlottesville. Help each of us who prays this prayer to yield to your Holy Spirit and submit to the leadership you have given us in our situations. AMEN and AMEN.

VERSE OF THE WEEK: "O tarry and await the Lord's pleasure; be strong, and he shall comfort your heart; wait patiently for the Lord" (Psalm 27:14).

COUNSELOR, we thank you that you have called and ordained Christian families, churches and missions to love and train up children in your ways. AMEN

TRUE LIGHT, we unite to pray for the suffering children of the former USSR who are locked into baby homes and state institutions; we ask you Lord to have mercy and call out Christian families that will be allowed to rescue these children and raise them in your love. AMEN

VERSE OF THE WEEK: "O tarry and await the Lord's pleasure; be strong, and he shall comfort your heart; wait patiently for the Lord" (Psalm 27:14).

BILL'S BLOG - "...not a surge of worry touch the Spirit there"

MY GREATEST dread right now, not only for myself but for the Bray family and my spiritual advisors, is that we will let circumstances dictate our next response.

"Time is running out," says that crafty old tempter in his most reasonable, resigned and concerned tone.

"You must replace that lost income, Bill?you are looking at the bottom of the barrel now. The Columbus house has not sold. The bills are coming due. What about the insurance and mortgages? What about that April deadlines? You?re not a young man anymore. You have responsibilities now. You must act fast. Better not delay. Take charge of things.

"The Lord is not answering your prayers. Why is he taking so long? Better take that job. Better take anything now, even temporary. Better move. Better go here and there. You better act! Act!! Act now!!!"

But I have heard that drum beat of panic before. I have been here before on my spiritual journey. I know these familiar feelings of panic and I know only too well the tension-filled voice of that worried, evil spirit. Even though it has been over a decade since I last experienced this temptation to panic, I know that Christ wants me to respond in faith not fear. May the Lord give me the grace I need.

Worry won?t add a single hair to your head or a millimeter to your height?and any action that comes from panic or worry cannot be blessed of God. (And by the way, this is the essence of lust as well. We want ?good? things, and we want them now on our terms and on our schedules. How many have married wrong or made long, painful detours on life?s journey because they couldn?t wait for God?s choice.)

Sometimes the question is not ?Should we wait?? but ?Where should we wait?? and ?How should we wait?? For example, should we move back to Charlottesville and wait there ? or should we stay put here in Columbus and wait for the Lord to provide a ?total? solution? Should I use this time to build up a new support team?

We have offers to minister and take temporary work from well-meaning friends in the ministry, but I don?t have the peace to accept them. It is not that these offers are not good causes and worthy Christian missions. Nor is it sloth, far from it! In fact the easiest thing for Bill Bray to do in the flesh is to fling myself mindlessly into ?religious? activism. Only the fear of God keeps me from saying yes to these tempting offers. Right now I need God?s grace to wait for the place of his own choosing for our family?and for the other team members that God is putting together for our next big mission assignment. For I know that wherever God sends me, he will not send me alone.

"Stayed upon Jehovah," says the old hymn, "hearts are fully blest, finding as he promised, perfect peace and rest."

NEWS BACKGROUND: Three buildings on the Calvary Campus in Columbus were devastated by a tornado last Thursday night, including the main sanctuary of Calvary Church.

PRINCE OF LIFE...We praise you for Pastor Don Wilhite and the people of Calvary who have loved and supported the Bray Family during the time they have been based Columbus. We thank you that no one was harmed in the senior citizen's homes and the new Alzheimer's care center was spared when the twister hit. AMEN

ADVOCATE...We pray for the volunteers who are cleaning up the buildings today and preparing for worship in the school gym on Sunday. Bless and guide the Calvary congregation as they embark on a new building program to replace the main sanctuary, counseling center, and women's shelter. Provide a flood of support. AMEN

SENT OF THE FATHER....We thank you for the little Columbus house you have given the Brays in which to live, work and write during this time. We thank you for the real estate people that are working to sell it and we thank you for the buyer you are sending. AMEN

BREAD OF LIFE...We pray that you will attract the right couple to buy the Columbus house at the right time so that the Brays will be free to move onto their next assignment. Help Ivy today as she works on planning the Bray Family Budget and provide her with the extra funds needed to pay both mortgages, utilities and cover every need during this time of transtion. Give Bill and Ivy patience and guide them to where their next house and office should be located. AMEN and AMEN and AMEN

SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY: "...Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it...(Psalms 127:1)

HOPE OF GLORY...we thank you for churches, mission groups and individuals who prove their love to you by obeying your commands to give offerings and tithes to your work with the lost, poor and needy. AMEN.

TESTATOR...we ask you to endorse by your Holy Spirit the Bray Family appeals, prayer letters and personal outreaches this month. Use them to attract at least 300 Prayer Partners and supporters so that your missionary work through Dr. Bill, Ivy and others can go and grow in the days ahead. AMEN AND AMEN

SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK: Then he said to them, "Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you--he is the greatest" (Luke 9:48).