If someone asked you the following question, how would you answer it? Is there something you’d love to see happen in your world that only God could do?

Lately I’ve been trying to talk to God about things in my world I just can’t see happening without his intervening help. There’s a lot I don’t worry about. And a lot I don’t bother to pray about. But even if I confined my praying to only the things that only God can do, I’d still have a LOT to talk about!

How about you? What do you see God doing around you? What do you want to see happen, but just isn’t likely? Here are some things I actually AM seeing God do. Things that I don’t think just happen on their own. Nor things that the people involved can make happen just with their own talent and resources:

• A faculty member attending a GFM bible study told the group last month that he’s recently left the Mormon faith and gotten baptized as a Christian. This totally came out of the blue according to George Stulac our GFM staff member at Wash-U.
• A second faculty member (same school, same bible study) declared that he is no longer a believer in Christian Science, but now is a follower of Jesus and embraces biblical Christianity!
• I just got a text message from Cheryl’s family asking us to pray for her niece who gave birth to a baby girl at just 27 weeks! I’m looking at a picture of Ellie on my phone – she’s 5 days old! She’s alive and kicking – all 14 inches of her! She weighs one pound, 15 ounces!
• One of my senior staff members came off campus this Fall to do fund-raising. He found $6,000 of repeating financial support in about 22 days! An even bigger miracle is that it was actually a joy-filled adventure for Kevin that left him feeling deeply valued and affirmed in ministry. Fund raising isn’t supposed to be THAT fun!

I know God doesn’t always seem to show up when we want him to. Neither does he show up as OFTEN as we want him to. Sometimes when he is silent or seemingly absent it’s purposeful. BUT…seeing him do things in others sometimes restores a lot of hope in your own life!

I want you to know that when you pray for me and my work on campus with Grad Faculty Ministry, I’m asking you to do what I really don’t believe CAN happen without God’s unique presence and direct help! You’re sort of like those three weaponless guys sitting up on a hillside watching Joshua fight the Amalekites in the valley below. As long as Moses kept his staff held up over his head, the battle went well for Joshua down below. Moses even had to recruit a couple of helpers to steady his arms till the battle was finished. Joshua vrs the Amalekites – Exodus 17

Here are some things in my ministry and personal world that I think only God can do. Would you pray for his power and presence to show up and bring his purposes to pass?

1. Levi is the guy in the middle in the photograph above. He’s a staff candidate for GFM ministry at Kansas State University. He’s really interested in coming on staff with Mark (the guy on the right) to work with grad students and international students. He has terrific ministry experience. He’s really drawn to cross-cultural settings. He’s done mission trips to Estonia. He’s from a ministry background. But at the end of the day, ONLY GOD can guide Levi onto our staff team. Would you pray for his application and interview process? Would you also pray for us to find other staff candidates!
2. What do you think God may up to here in Omaha with our GCF group? Four students in the group of 20 are not-yet Christians. They are curious and engaged. ONLY GOD will be able to bring them to faith in Jesus. Pray for them as they take in the story of Mark’s Gospel. Ask God to take away distractions and barriers to considering Jesus. Ask Jesus to become real to them personally as they read and study about him. Ask God to keep bringing other not-yet Christians to the group and grow our passion for reaching out in GFM.
3. In addition to baby Ellie, there will be a new member of our family coming next spring to Silas and Haleigh. Lewyn’s gonna be getting a baby brother! ONLY GOD can author life and bring new people into our world! Pray for Ellie to make progress. Pray for baby Perry (grand-baby #5 to me and Cheryl) to keep getting knit together cell by cell!
4. My staff member George would love your prayers for his grandson Warren Stulac. Warren has undergone leukemia treatments TWICE (each round of treatments was 29 months in length). We just heard a couple of weeks ago that Warren has relapsed again and is looking at a third regimen of chemo. This family is looking to God for what only he can do in Warren’s battle with this sickness. Please pray for them.
5. Another one of my friends and supporters back in Illinois is battling cancer. Its a very dangerous and somewhat rare form of liver cancer. Her name is Jill. Please pray for God to do what only he can do. She was diagnosed a little over a year ago. Currently the cancer is advancing. Pray for her healing. Pray for her ability to keep fighting. Pray for her husband Andy and her son Clay. Pray for her mom who is really struggling to watch her daughter undergo this.

Thank you so much for rolling up your sleeves in prayer. Thank you for holding up your tired arms in intercession. Thank you for your prayers for me and my family. Thank you for keeping that heavy staff held up over your head! If there’s something YOU need God to do for you, I’d love to know that and pray with you! Just jot me an email using the link below.