Wowzers

--DR-Style March Madness Round Two--

Last Monday, I ran into a student that I've gotten to know over the past several months, but I haven't seen her around campus since Christmas. Our team had just finished getting the second Spring Break group from Oklahoma University on their bus when I spotted her on the other side of the library. We hugged, and she told me that she's seen the Spring Break group around campus, talking with students. 

"What are they sharing?" she asked. 

"This little booklet that describes who Jesus is and how we can have a true relationship with Him," I responded, pulling out the Knowing God Personally booklet in Spanish. 

"Will you share it with me?" she asked.

So, we sat down in the shade from the library awning, and I began to tell her about who Jesus is and what it truly means to personally know and follow Him. About halfway through our conversation, she stopped me and asked me if this is the same thing that I shared with her last semester. I answered that it was. She agreed and decided to continue. 

It was at the end of our conversation, as we're discussing what it really means to surrender your life to Christ and receive Him as Savior and Lord, that she stopped me again.

"I want this for my life, but I'm just not ready. I'm still not ready."

Maybe, on the outset, this conversation appears disappointing or frustrating or sad, but I want to take a moment to reassure you--this was a moment of complete JOY.  This was a moment of Christ displaying, like always, His SOVEREIGNTY.

Why? 

Because this particular student had, on several occasions last semester, made it very clear to me, my team, and any other university student that happened to be around (whether involved in the campus ministry or not), that she was Not a Christian and did Not want to be one. 

So, what happened?

The Holy Spirit, people.

That's what's up.

 "He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.” John 16:14-15

Jesus keeps astounding me. Not only does He love without ceasing, not only does He promise to be with me forever, not only is He utterly trustworthy and sovereign, not only does He protect and provide for me, not only does He desire mercy rather than sacrifice, but But BUT...

He invites us to be a part of what He is doing. He gives good and wonderful gifts according to His grace, love, and pleasingly, perfect will. He makes us new creations. He gives His Holy Spirit, so that we don't have to work to win our salvation.

"For it is by grace you have been saved..."

And, since He loves us a lot and there is no ending to His grace...

It means His gifts are the best.

The. Best.

xoxo,

kme