Cedar Ridge Community Church: Lenten Devotions: 03/26/09

John 3: 1-21 (New International Version)

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him."

In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."

"How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"

Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' 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."

"How can this be?" Nicodemus asked.

"You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus, "and do you not understand these things? I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

“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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."

Thursday, March 26, 2009

27th Day of Lent

"Giving Back"
(Painting by Rachel Hatton. The painting is made up of six sections. Total size: 6x9ft.)

Have you ever had that moment
where you are totally undone
by the awesomeness of God?

In that moment
you feel Him in everything,
every part of your being.

And yet you cannot contain Him
and He pours forth from you.

…Standing on the top of a grassy hill
you are all alone and surrounded by everyone all at the same time
because you are filled with the One who is connected
with everyone and everything.

The wind picks up
and in that moment of complete surrender
you find Him
and you give back everything that He has given you.
You give it all to Him.
In thanks,
in submission,
in love.

The wind swirls around you and you feel God.
Standing there at the top of the hill
raising your arms and
spinning with the wind,
you dance with God.
And give it all
to Him.

Single use only, in 2009 Cedar Ridge Community Church Lenten Blog.
Unlawful to copy or duplicate. All Rights Reserved
Contact:© Hatton Creations, LLC mail@hattoncreations.com

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