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.
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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.
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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.
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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
Shannon- Charlotte, NC: I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes andbe careful to obey my rules. Ezekiel 36:22-27 ESV
Melissa Droegemueller, San Antonio, Texas
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.
Psalm 42:5-6 ESV
Chrissy, San Tan Valley, Arizona
“O Lord, you are my God;
I will exalt you;
I will praise your name,
for you have done wonderful things,
plans formed of old, faithful and sure.”
Isaiah 25:1 ESV
Lori, Richmond, Va
Colossians 3:12 NIV
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. gentleness and patience.
Anne from Glen Allen, VA- God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1 NIV
Emily McAnear, Corona,CA
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.”
NIV
Rosalye
Vicksburg, MS
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Col. 3:12
NIV
Buffi from Mission, TX:
Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. (Galatians 5:25 NLT)
Rachel, Eugene, OR
“The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.”
Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)
Deb, Windsor, CT:
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” – Matthew 7:7-8, NIV
‘Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun druing the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life.’
Ecclesiastes 5:18 (NLT)
Amy Hart; Milton, WA
“It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning and your faithfulness by night.”
Ps. 92:1-2, ESV
Tenda from Bellevue, WA
“Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life.”
Isaiah 43: 4 (NIV)
Beverly, Pearland, TX
2 Corinthians 4:7 TNIV
“We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”
Margaret Ann, Pacific Junction, IA (PJ):
Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him.
You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah
Psalm 32:6-7 ESV
Pat, Littlefield, Tx.
” So do not fear, forI am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 41:10 NIV
Elsie Gregory, Scottsbluff NE
As is Your name, O God,
So is Your praise to the ends of the earth
Your right hand is full of righteousness.
Psalm 48:10 (NASB)
Angie
Clarkston, Michigan.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29 NIV)
You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Isaiah 55: 12 NIV
Deedi Phillips, Kodak, TN
“Is not my word like fire, declares the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?”
Jeremiah 23:29 ESV
Carol Costello from Billings, MT
Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor.
Proverbs 29:23
NLT
Andrea, Overland Park, KS
To declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night,
Psalms 92:2
ESV
Ellen, Aurora, OH
Psalm 92:1-4 NLT
It is good to give thanks to the Lord – to sing praises to your name, Oh most High. To declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night.
Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right.
Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable.
Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
Philippians 4:8 NLT
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.
Jennifer, Gaithersburg
“For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?” Isaiah 43:19 NLT
Lori, San Angelo, Tx
“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me, ” but I will not be enslaved by anything.
1Corinthians 6:12 ESV
4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.
Romans 12:4-5 NLT
Robbie
Royal Oak, Michigan
We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in out lives. WE ARE NO LONGER SLAVES TO SIN!
Romans 6:6 NLT
Lauren, Kentucky, James 4:6, KJV: But he giveth more grace. Wherefore He saith, God resisteth the proud but giveth grace unto the humble.
Linda from Birmingham, Alabama
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.”
John 14:1 (NIV)
Jennifer Cooper; Greenville, TX
Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV)
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
Gray, TN
“But no one in heaven on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it.” Rev. 5:3
Cindy, Belleville IL
“When my Spirit grows faint within me, It is you who watch over my way” Psalm 142:3a NIV
As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him.
Psalm 18:30 (NIV)
Elizabeth M, Cedar Hill TX, Romans 9:16 NIV, “It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.”
Kathy Jo from Dayton, Nevada
“The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.”
~ Romans 8:6-8 NIV
Janet, West Linn, OR
“Behold I am The Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?”
Jeremiah 32:27(ESV)
Roni from Demopolis, Alabama – Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control. Proverbs 25:28. NIV
…Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
Ephesians 4:29
Sally, Columbus, OH
“Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.”
Isaiah 40:30-31 NIV
From Antioch, IL
Be merciful to those who doubt
Jude 8:22 NIV
LoriAngela, Chilliwack BC, Canada
Ask, and it will be given to you; search and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.
Matthew 7:7 NRSV
Kristen Vick from Evans, GA
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
1 Peter 2:9 (NKJV)
Stephanie Colucci Dallas, TX
Ephesians 4:2
New International Version (NIV)
2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Christina McClain Nampa, Idaho HCSB James 1:5. “Now if any if you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him.”
Vickie C, Baytown
For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory. Deuteronomy 20:4 NIV
Melissa Irwin; Franklin, TN
Psalm 27:14 (NASB)
“Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage;
yes, wait for the Lord.”
Dawn B, Ozark, MO
I love you Lord; you are my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.
Psalm 18:1-2 (NLT)
Janice – Topeka KS
Col. 3:12 NET
Therefore as the elect of God,holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.