Hey, all of you lovely things! It’s nearly Spring and we’re all the way to verse 6! You are doing fabulously, Sisters. We are still THOUSANDS strong on this Scripture memory team. Thousands of Swords drawn and in the hands of women who want to love and not hate, build up and not destroy, rejoice because our God is faithful and not throw ourselves in the nearest ditch because life is hard. And, boy, is it.
I think God has given me something that could be a tad fun to do this time around. Since we started off the week here on the blog talking about clothes, what do you say we end it that way? For those of you who want to come alongside this theme with me, I’m throwing out three different Scriptures about clothing ourselves. You are still welcome to do your own selections as always but, just in case some of you were still in decision-mode and this sounded fitting (pardon the pun), come along with me into the closet of Scripture and let’s come out some well-dressed women of God! I’m offering the first two selections to you in two different versions so you can choose which one resonates most.
Colossians 3:12-13 (NIV) — (As you can see, this one includes two Scriptures. You’d only need to choose one of these for Verse 6 but I thought just maybe somebody could use a fresh, strong exhortation to forgive as you’ve been forgiven. I don’t know about you but that verse is never wasted on me. If you’d like, you could do the first verse for #6 and the second verse for #7.)
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
12Â Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, 13Â bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if someone happens to have a complaint against anyone else. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also forgive others.
================
Now for the second set of verses on clothing ourselves. Sometimes we need to clothe ourselves in humility before we try clothing ourselves to no avail with compassion. Our pride is usually reason #1 that we don’t feel compassionate. At least it has been for me.
1 Peter 5:5 (NIV)
In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
1 Peter 5:5 (The NET Bible)
In the same way, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
===================
And you’ve just GOT to love Luke 24:49 in view of our clothing theme this week! Here’s the third selection out of the closet of Scripture, straight from the mouth of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Luke 24:49 NIV
 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.
Luke 24:49 The NET Bible
And look, I am sending you what my Father promised. But stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
Power from on high! Bless His most holy Name.
==============
So there you have it! Three gorgeous jackets to wear. Which one do you need to wrap around you most right now? Do you need to be clothed with compassion? Humility? Power?? He’s got you covered. But just like we do each morning, we’ve got to get dressed on purpose.
Here’s what I’ve been thinking about in view of our clothing theme. Remember all those jackets in my 5+ Year Club? Several of them I’d had for ten solid years and I’m still wearing them. When it comes to tangible clothing, that can be good stewardship. But sometimes we can do the same kind of thing spiritually and emotionally and it’s not pretty. We can keep wearing the same old jacket…
…of anger
…or of bitterness
…or of negativity
…or of chronic disappointment
…or of sensuality
…or of desperation
and we’re so used to wearing it that we throw it on automatically, without giving a thought to the fact that we really could have a whole new wardrobe. It might be time we changed the way we dressed. And this whole new incredibly expensive wardrobe of compassion, humility, and anointing has already been paid for. And it’s in your size and mine.
Yep. I’m in the mood for some new clothes.
Beth, Houston. Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if someone happens to have a complaint against anyone else. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also forgive others. Colossians 3:12-13 The NET Bible
OK, Sisters! Let’s have it! What are you memorizing this time around???
PS. LifeWay Women’s All Access Blog did the funniest thing. They dug into the Living Proof Live archives and pulled out pictures of every single one of those jackets in Monday’s post. Some of you might get a kick out of it. Here’s the link: The Proof Is In The Jacket.
Tags: Scripture Memory 2013
Lisa from Denver,Ephesians 6:12 NIV
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly world.
Prayin this for my 16 yr old daughter!
Turn to Me in the day of trouble. I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me. Psalm 50:15 NASB
Marilyn, Mission Viejo, CA
Romans 6:23 ESV
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Calla, Thousand Oaks, California
“Do not fear for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
When you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.
Isaiah 43: 1-2. NIV
Karen, Hartselle, AL
1 Corinthians 13:6-7
6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
NIV Sorry, left out the translation! 🙂
Kristin V from Greenwood, IN: The King will reply, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:40 NIV
Dianne Jones, Fairfield, CA – “Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.” James 3:18 (NIV)
Karlys, La Place, LA
Honor the LORD with your wealth,
and with the firstfruits of all your produce,
then your barns will be filled with plenty,
and your vats will be bursting with wine.
Proverbs 3: 9 + 10 ESV
Ashley from Allen
“But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may having life in His name.” John 20:31 (ESV)
Ann from San Antonio
Yo soy el camino, la verdad y la vida —le contestĂł JesĂşs—. Nadie llega al Padre sino por mĂ. Juan 14:6 NVI
Joan , Carter Lake IA
Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. (Psalm 105:4 NIV)
Laura, Southaven, MS
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3 ESV
Miranda Martin pearland, tx
Lord be gracious to us! We wait for you. Be our strength in the morning and our salvation in time of trouble.
Isaiah 33:2 HCSB
Julie, Texarkana- “Yes, Lord, walking in the way of Your laws, we wait for You; Your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.” Isaiah 26:8 NIV
How precious to me are your thoughts,God!
How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand—
when I awake, I am still with you.
Psalm 139:17-18 NIV
Gena Carter: Conway, AR
1 Chronicles 11:14 NIV
But they took their stand in the middle of the field. They defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the Lord brought about a great victory. 1 Chronicles 11:14 NIV
Sarah from Eagle River, AK
For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life. -Ephesians 2:10
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV
Diana – Indianapolis – Matt. 28:5-6 ESV
5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he[a] lay.
Maryann, Cold Lake Alberta
” Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if someone happens to have a complaint against anyone else. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also forgive others.”
Col. 3:12-13 NET
Dorian from Grimes, IA
“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
-Exodus 14:14 NIV
Janet from Odessa, TX
Therefore, God’s chosen ones, holy and loved, put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,
Colossians 3:12 HCSB
Jo Ann, Philadelphia “And now my head wll be lifted up above my enemies around me, And I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.” Ps. 27:6 (NASB)
Gina, Kosciusko, MS
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7
Shawna Stephenville, Tx.
For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back
into fear, but you have received the spirit of adoption as
sons, by whom we cry Abba! Father!
Romans 8:15
Amy S – Sugar Land TX
Because of the Lord ’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22, 23 NIV)
Sherry
Indianapolis, IN
“The more words, the less the meaning, and how does that profit anyone?”
Eccliastes 6.11 (niv )
Kristen, Largo, FL. Psalm 34: 17 NLT “The Lord hears His people when they call to Him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles.”
“The Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. 2 Thessalonians 3:3”
Brittany, Griffin. “Wait for The Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for The Lord.” Psalm 27:14, NIV
Joani, Jacksonville, FL – “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)
How precious to me are your thoughts,God!
How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand—
when I awake, I am still with you.
Psalm 139:17-18
candifer, sd: i don’t mean to say that i have already achieved these things or that i have already reached perfection. but i press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. philippians 3:12 (NLT)
My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in find clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, “You sit here in a good place.” and you say to the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,” have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives.
James 2:1-4 NASB
Tyra, Houston…
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
Luke 8:50 (NIV)
Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”
Laura, Indianapolis IN. Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, Colossians 3:12 ESV
Nancy,Rhinelander,Wi
Therfore, as the elect of God,holy and dearly loved,clothe yourself with a heart of mercy,kindness,humility,gentleness,and patience,bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if someone happens to have a complaint against anyone else. Just as the Lord has forgiven you so you also forgive others. Col.3:12&13NET
Cherie – Pocatello, ID – “Come to me all you who are weary and heavy burdened, and I will give you rest” (Mt 11:28 NIV).
Dear children,let us love,not in word or speech, but in truth and action. 1 John 3:18 NASB
Sarah B., Athens, GA
“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.”
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 (NIV)
Valerie
Sparks, Nevada
For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.
1 Corinthians 14:33 NIV
Jaclyn from Naperville, IL
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV
Joyce
Sparta, NJ
“When words are many transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.”
Proverbs 10:19 (ESV)
Bethany from Katy: “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and He delights in his way.” Psalm 37:23 NKJV
Daughter, Hannah: “Love never fails”1 Cor.13:8 NIV
Daughter, Maddy:But the LORD replied,”Do you have any right to be angry?” Jonah 4:4 NIRV
Eniola, Madrid
“In the same way, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
1 Peter 5:5 (The NET Bible)
Carmela, Forney, TX: For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Romans 8:29 KJV)
“Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world.”
Philippians 2:14-15 NASB
1 Chronicles 29:14 NIV
But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you and we have given only what comes from your hand.
Carol, Midland, Texas
My son, keep your father’s commands and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. Bind them upon your heart forever; fasten them around your neck. When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you. For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life. Proverbs 6:20-23 (this is submitted for the 1st and the 15th)