When I accepted Jesus Christ's sacrifice for me and took Him as my Lord and Savior, I joined a membership.  I am now a member of the family of God and the kingdom of God.  In many ways it's like any membership.  If I join a gym, Blockbuster, a music club or a school organziation there are certain rights and privileges I have because of that membership.  There are also certain restrictions and rules on how things run in that organization. 

MOST Christians, however, sadly, don't know much about their membership.  They know neither their rights nor their privileges.  They don't know the spiritual laws that run their membership; the rules and restrictions that tell you how membership runs in this glorious membership.  Sure, they know that membership in God's family keeps them from hell-Yeah!!  That is awesome.  But they haven't read the rest of the membership gifts.   In fact, they often think this membership brings them much harm and bad and pain that they must suffer through(barely making it by) because it's "part of the package". 

The more Mrs. Burt, Reynolds and I read the Bible, seek God, listen to Him and read books, the more we realize the truth of Hosea 4:6:  "My people are DESTROYED for lack of knowledge".  That was God speaking.  And we are often destroyed, not knowing how things work in this membership, the laws that govern life here, the rights and privileges that abound here.  We have SO MUCH more to our membership than we live in.   We have the elite, gold membership-the highest one that offers the most because it cost the most.  After all, our membership was paid with Christ's blood.  Boy howdy are we destroyed for lack of knowledge.  It's time we learned about our membership!!!!

Reading the Bible just totally rocks!!!  It is SO alive!  I'm reading last night and having a wonderful time with my God when I end up in Jeremiah 31.  Now for this to make sense remember we are now the children of God, considered the descendants of Abraham, so much of what the OT says regarding God and how He feels about His people directly relates to us.

The whole chapter is great(check it out) but in Jeremiah chapter 31, verse 18 God is speaking:  "I have surely heard Ephraims'(Israel-His people) moaning: 'You disciplined me like an unruly calf, and I have been disciplined.  Restore me, and I will return, because you are the Lord my God.  After I strayed, I repented; after I came to understand, I beat my breast.  I was ashamed and humiliated because I bore the disgrace of my youth.' "

 Here is God's people saying, "I blew it Lord-I got away from you-and I realized how off I was, how much I missed it and missed you because I did something dumb, again, help me"(H's today version).  Hang on to your shorts, they're gonna get blown off!!!  Here's God's reply:

v.20 "Is not Ephraim my dear son, the child in whom I delight?  Though I often speak against him, I still remember him.  Therefore my heart yearns for him; I have great compassion for him." declares the Lord.

Wow!!  and halelujah!!! That's what God says of us, of you and of me.  Even when I'm off and I finally come back and say help.  His reponse is:  I delight in you H.  Sometimes I have to tell you what's what(and He does) but I yearn for you, H.  I have compassion on you.  Did you catch that?  God yearns for you!!!! for me!!!!   God yearns for you!! He delights in you!!!  That's His response when you blow it and come back.  Yes, I had to discipline you, but I delight in you, I yearn for you.

That's MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!  The God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Kathy, Denease and H!!!  Not to mention you!!  halelujah!!

That love should get you shouting!!  Golly, I'd love to do a Bible study just on those verses, such depths and riches to mine explore and mine.

Better go, or I'll keep rambling.

Happy New Year ya'll-2006!!!! Wild, huh?  I("H") just wanted to relay a cool lesson God gave me while in Washington for Christmas.  I came home one night from hanging with friends, went to get ready for bed and pulled back the covers.  There, sitting under the covers was a pack of my new, favorite mints: Eclipse, cinnamon. (My daddy had me try them earlier that week and I mentioned how great they were).   I, immediately, went out to my daddy, thanked him and kissed him.  He was laughing and asked, "What'd ya find?".  To which I replied, "A box of the cool mints".   "Well, then, you better keep on digging", he answered with a laugh.  I went back in and found two more boxes hiding under the covers.  Again, I came out all giddy and excited, hugging and kissing him and telling him how great he is.  He was all smiles and laughs, asking again what I found.  This time I had found two more boxes.  He again sent me "digging".  This went on for three or four times and a total of 6 or 7 boxes hidden in my bed.  Me excited each time at his giving and he excited at giving.  He was all smiles and laughter and I was all smiles and excitement.  

I then got under the covers(it's cold up there!) and started my time with God.  God spoke VERY clearly to me-in one of those voices unmistakably His and told me:  "Rena', I want to love you like that, to lavish blessings on you.  Just as your dad got joy from giving to you, so do I."  That was the good part.  Here's the rest:  "But you will not often receive from me, dig for what I want to give you; and you trust more in the goodness of your earthly daddy than you do me."  Immediately, that verse came to mind that says, "if you, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more your heavenly father gives good gifts.....".   It was a profound lesson.  I still, at 36, and learning more in the last five years than ever, do not KNOW my God, know His character and His love for me.  And, yes, I have trusted in my earthly daddy's goodness more than God's.  But, halelujah, He loves me and wants to lavish good things on me-He wants to bless me and when He blesses me and gives to me it brings a smile to His face and laughter to His lips.   This year let's really explore the character and love of God-there's a worthy goal for the year.

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!" How are we to live? We are to live like a child of God.

A child of God has power over the enemy.  1John 4:4 "You dear children are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world."

A child of God must behave in a fitting way. Eph.5:1-4  "Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us a a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But among you there must not be even a hint of impurity or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk of coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.

A child of God must have the expression of the Master.   Col. 3:12 "Therefore as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience."

God says to us more than we dare to say of ourselves "Behold, you are children of God." Don't be afraid! Take your stand! Come in line and declare, "I will be a child of God!"  

Ok, first, thanks for reading the epic.  Second, we haven't really checked out anybody's xangas because we figure that is ya'lls'(Mrs. Burt's word) way of keeping up with each other and we don't want to invade your "youth culture".  We simply wanted to share.  We'd love to hear about the cool or deep things going on, but thought we'd stay out of your stuff.  Still, we do love you all, pray for you and thank you for your comments. 

So, new thought:  2 Corinthians 3:3 "You show you are a letter from Christ...." 3:6  "He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant".  You are a letter of recommendation for Jesus.  That's a thought!! People see your life, read you, and that is supposed to recommend Jesus to them.  For those of you who have dealt with the letter of recommendation process comtemplate on both who you ask for one of those and what you hope their letter accomplishes on your behalf.   Then, catch verse 6 YOU ARE COMPETENT AS MINISTERS  v.5 tells you the competence comes from Christ.  You are competent to be an example, to share Jesus and to shine God-the hope, the only true joy, the salvation, the LIFE to people.  God says YOU ARE COMPETENT. So, don't lose heart.  As Beth Moore says:  Make others jealous to know Jesus!!