Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” 3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.[a]”
4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[b] gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You[c] must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”[d]
9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.
10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven —the Son of Man.[e] 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,[f] 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”[g]
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
This scripture has been on my mind and my heart ever since I read it. It has been going over and over in my mind so I prayed and prayed about this and I asked God is this what you want me to do, is this what I need to do. I have never been Baptized in almost 38 years of my life God was trying to tell me something I truly do believe this. It has really done something to me because though I know God does answer prayers, God does speak to us I'm not use to it being so bold and so strong. I spoke with a few friends of mine about this and the pure feeling of need and want I have in me. My 14 year old has also decided to do this with me she gave her heart to God last summer at camp and I am so proud of her and I hope that she will continue to seek God and I want this for the rest of my family so I'm going to be who God wants me to be and I'm going to be the example I need to be! God has been too good to me and I will listen and I will obey his will for me and my life. So June the 3rd is going to be the day of our Baptism I am excited, happy and a wee bit nervous because I simply don't like being up in front of a lot of people but I will listen and I will do what I need to do and what I desire but more importantly what he desires for me what he desires for everyone's life. I am so happy that a few of my close friends who have really been there for me has decided that they also want to come down to South Carolina for this occasion it means a lot to me to have those who have loved me, prayed for me and with me to be there! God is good and if you don't believe that let me know and I'll tell you just how good my God has been to me! <3
