GroshLink

The semester has come to an end.  Christmas is but a few days away.  InterVarsity's National Staff Conference (in St. Louis) lies just beyond the new year. Before we know it, the annual Mid-Altantic Graduate & Faculty Ministry Winter Retreat will be upon us! Join me in prayer as I prepare to direct the January 25-27 gathering.

Praises
1. As I've prayerfully considered the rich book of Psalms over the past several months, the theme of The God Who Knows and Journeys with His People (even on campus) impressed itself upon me.  Praise God for the focusing of programmatic details over the past several days. Note: Both Jim Sire's Learning to Pray Through the Psalms and Eugene Peterson's A Long Obedience in the Same Direction have been a blessing in preparation (And I commend them to you).  Praise God for these servants of the Lord and their writing.
2. Two passages which I could not shake in preparations were Psalm 139 and Psalm 46. When I asked a colleague to lead a manuscript Bible study on Psalm 139, I learned he had memorized the Psalm when he was young as part of family devotions. He can not only share Psalm 139 from memory, but also share much regarding the Psalm. Praise God! The Spirit moves and breathes in amazing ways.

Intercessions
1. Urge the Father to step into the busy lives of graduate students, compelling them by His Spirit to set-aside January 25-7 for receiving more of Him and His Word in the context of the people of God, so that His Light might pierce the dark parts of their campus, families, neighborhoods, and whereever participants are called.
2. InterVarsity staff team members to have Spirit-led vision in the preparation of their own hearts for the new semester, the invitation of students to the weekend, the leading of sessions/table discussion, and the follow-up conversations at the retreat/beyond.
3. Pray for the spiritual obstacles placed before International Scholars who desire to learn more about Christ to be broken down.

More updates to come.  Feel free to browse the website for the Mid-Altantic Graduate & Faculty Ministry Winter Retreat for pictures of previous years.  We rejoice in your partnership in this mission