Word Up!

Continuing in our "Word Up" series I want to highlight a couple of verses in Genesis 6 and 9. Genesis 6 is where the story of Noah, the ark and the flood begins. Genesis 9 is where we see God bless Noah and make good on all He promised Noah before the flood.

I like this story for several reasons. It made my favorites because it is the first mention of God making covenant with man.

I want to highlight Genesis 6:18a which says, "But I will establish My covenant with you…" It is here we are introduced to our covenant making God.

Let's look at a definition of covenant. I am currently reading a book with a chapter on covenants and I like the author's definition, so I will borrow his.

"Covenant is comprised of three facets. First, it means an agreement that is only to be broken by death. Second, the nature of a covenant is that those who make it die to themselves for the sake of their covenant partner; and last, a people who are in covenant give each other the right to influence their decisions. In other words, the focus of each member of the covenant is, "I'm in this relationship for what I can give to it, not just for what I can receive from it." Definition taken from "The Supernatural Ways of Royalty" by Kris Vallotton and Bill Johnson.

Back to Genesis 9:9, "I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you." Verse 11, "I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth." The rest of the chapter goes on to tell of how God will remember this covenant.

Notice, God not only made this covenant with Noah, but all his descendants...that includes you and me!

The Old Testament covenant God made with man was based on man's ability to keep the rules. Thankfully for us, God entered into a new covenant by terminating the old one with the death of Jesus. Paul tells us about this in Romans with the presentation of the gospel and plan of salvation; and in Galatians where he tells us we are justified by faith and not of works.

The Bible is full of covenants between God and man and between believers. Marriage is a beautiful picture of covenant relationship, modeled after God's covenant with us. I think the point in the above definition most poignant to me was we are to be in relationship for what we can give to it, not for what we can receive.

In our modern society with an "all about me" mentality the importance of covenant relationship has mostly been lost. In the body of Christ alone divorce rates are high, relationships are expendable and we select a church based on its ability to meet our needs.

I am certainly not an expert on covenants, but I am looking forward to learning more about relationships where covenant is honored. Being a contributor and not just a consumer is a desire of my heart. I am thankful to serve a covenant God who keeps His promises to His children. Pure covenant relationships with God and others are just one more reason My Soul Sings!

Word Up

This post will be short and sweet! Betcha don't think I can do it, do ya? We are going to continue looking at some of my favorite scriptures in our "Word Up" series. I have decided (for now) I will go in order of the books of the Bible.



It doesn't matter what translation you read it in Genesis 3:21 pretty much says the same thing:

"The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them."

Short verse, to the point and simple. Adam and Eve were naked and for the first time (because of the fall in the garden) this was a problem. Up until this point shame had not entered into the picture and they freely frolicked around in their birthday suits...how fun. In Genesis 3:10 we see Adam and Eve are afraid (because of their sin) and naked so they hid...enter in fear and shame...thanks guys, we really appreciate it.

Where am I going here? I love how God reveals His mercy in verse 21. HE CLOTHED THEM. This verse may be short and simple, but we see a part of God's character many times overlooked by those who want to paint a picture of God as angry, full of wrath and out to "zap" us. This verse shows the kindness of God and we are merely three chapters into the Bible!

How many times have you been "clothed" by God? I don't think I could begin to count the times His mercy and grace has clothed me...let's just say, it's a very high number!

So, today I am thankful and my soul sings because I serve a God who is merciful, kind and loving...and it's His kindness that leads me to repentance (see Romans 2:4.)

Word Up

I get asked occasionally what my favorite scripture is. I have an awfully hard time narrowing it down to one! When I first began developing a thirst for the Word of God I quickly acquired many favorites. The more I study and grow in the knowledge of Him, the more verses get added to my ever multiplying favorites list. Instead of limiting myself to one or two I'm going to spend some time blogging about many of them. Not sure yet if this will form into a series or become a regularly featured topic. It will be fun to see which direction it will take!

I love using different translations of the Bible. On a daily basis I use the New International Version. I am finding I also really like the New American Standard, New Living and Amplified versions equally well. Of course it's always fun to read passages of scripture from The Message, which is known more as a paraphrase, than a translation.

I love it when a translation starts out a verse with the word beloved. My name means beloved...so it's extra meaningful to me. Of course I can attach "beloved" to the beginning of any verse and it would apply and you can too, because, as believers, we are all the beloved of Christ:) Sometimes I will insert my name in place of the pronoun used. I will do this especially if I am claiming a promise of God or declaring truth about my identity as a child of God.

Something else I developed the habit of doing several years ago is writing in my Bible a date beside a verse or passage when I have experienced it personally. When I encounter the living God through His Word I want to remember it. Not only do I enjoy looking back on these notes, I am leaving a legacy to future generations of my spiritual journey.

I hope by sharing my favorites you will be encouraged to dig into God's Word and discover your own treasures. Again I want to remind you my commentary on this blog is not doctrine...it's simply what I feel I have heard from the Lord. I am not a theologian. I think this is the third time I have said this and it won't be the last....allow Holy Spirit to be your Teacher!

We will begin this journey in the beginning...what a novel idea:)

Genesis 1:26-28 (NAS)

Then God said,"'Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, " Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth."

This passage is full of meaning and significance, but I will share what speaks to me about them. First, notice God refers to Himself as Us meaning, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I love the fact the three in one God existed before time began, not just the Father. This blows my mind and I just can not comprehend it.

Second, we are told here for the first time we are made in the image of God! This verse and others like it were especially powerful to me when I was walking in self-rejection and low self-esteem. I did not like who I was and I really did not like my appearance. Then I realized I was made in the image of God. To say I was ugly was like saying He was ugly!

Third, this verse tells us we were given dominion over the earth and everything in it, even "every living thing that moves on the earth," not a coincidence because Satan would appear just two chapters later as a serpent.

Adam and Eve gave up their right to subdue the earth and rule with their choice in the garden...BUT Jesus came to earth and gave His life on the cross and by His sacrifice we were given dominion back!!!! Jesus gave us this authority in the great commission found in Matthew 28:16-20.

I often explain this authority to people when I am ministering to them. When someone seems to be continually struggling to walk in victory as a follower of Christ it usually indicates they have given authority to the enemy. The only power the enemy has over you is that which you give him! This doesn't mean we always knowingly give it to him. Through active and generational sin the enemy is given legal access to our lives. Another way we give the enemy authority is by believing lies. When we believe a lie we empower the enemy to work in our life. We have the power in the name of Jesus to shut these sin doors, replacing lies with truth and walk in a life of victory! All because of JESUS!!!!!!!!!!!

I can see this is probably going to take me awhile if I go into such details with each verse or passage:) Looking forward to sharing more of my favorites over the days, weeks...ahem, months ahead! Carrying the Sword of the Spirit (the Bible) in my heart absolutely, undeniably makes my soul sing!