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
DeeDee. Katy,Tx
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
I Cor 13:7-8a
NIV
Cathy Blount Monroe GA
I will lift my eyes to the hills-where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1,2 NIV
Amen, sister!
Elvira, Grande Prairie, Alberta
James 5:16. NIV
” Therefore confess your sins to each other
and pray for each other so that you may be healed.
The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”
Meredith, Kosciusko
“But because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” Hebrews 7:24-25 NIV84
2 Cor 5:7-8 NIV84 We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
Kathy
Shattuck, OK
Psalm 139:5 “You hem me in-behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me.” (NIV)
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me.
Diane, Largo, Fl
Psalm 61:3 AMP
For YOU have been a shelter and a refuge for me, a strong tower against the adversary.
I Love that!
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21(NIV)
Jan, Denton, TX “Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out.” Galatians 6:1-2 MSG
Lynn, Leonardtown, MD
“for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10 ESV)
Thanks, Lynn! Just the verse I needed today!
Tammy Mashburn from Spartanburg SC
There’s nothing better than being wise, knowing how to interpret the meaning of life. Wisdom puts light in the eyes, and gives gentleness to words and manners.
Ecclesiastes 8:1MSG
Toni, Argyle, TX
For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
Romans, 8:14, NASB
And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. (Romans 8:10 NKJV)
Cathy Morris Sedona, AZ Ph 4:8 NIV Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.
I just posted after you and read your verse. I was JUST in Sedona two days ago with my family! I will be thinking of those lovely red rocks for a long time; what a beautiful town.
Leigh, Woodway, TX
Psalm 121:7-8 (NIV)
7 The Lord will keep you from all harm—
  he will watch over your life;
8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going
  both now and forevermore.
Carolyn, Dover
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Psalm 139:13,14 NIV
Sonya, Frisco, TX Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed. (Proverbs 16:3 NLT)
Shera. Lynchburg, VA
 It is necessary for that one to increase, but for me to decrease.”
JOHN 3:30. LEB
Andrea Purcell
New Palestine, IN
Proverbs 19:11 (NIV)
11 A person’s wisdom yields patience;
it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense
Carol Wiglesworth, Olathe Kansas
So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. (Galatians 3:26, 27 NIV)
(Staying in the clothing theme…)
Eva in Wichita, KS
In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
2 Timothy 3:12
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 lay.
Kerry, Memphis
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8 (ESV)
1 John 1:5 “This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” ESV
Forgetting what lies behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward In Christ Jesus. Phil. 3:13b-14 NIV
Kathy , Madison, CT
Romans 1: 11-12 NIV
I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.
Memphis, TN
“Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.” Is. 45:22 KJV
Rachel ~ Appling, GA
Psalm 25:21 GNB
May goodness and honesty preserve me, because I trust in you.
Nadine Fry, Morton, UK
To declare Your steadfast love in the morning,
and Your faithfulness by night.
Psalm 92:2 ESV
Susan
Berryville, VA
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colosians 3:12 NIV
Shauna–Aurora, NE
“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children” Ephesians 5:1, NIV
Elizabeth, Pittsburgh, PA:
2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV 1984) – For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
Tessa from Nacogdoches TX
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
James 4:7 NKJV
There is an order….
Amy, Birmingham, AL
Therefore,as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Col. 3:12. NIV
Kristina O. Ellenton, FL
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Colossians 3:12 (NIV)
Jill, Searcy AR “Do everything without arguing or complaining.”
Phil 2:14 NIV
Jennifer, Cullman, AL
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:8 NIV)
Proverbs 22:6 NIV
Train up a child in the way he shall go,
and when he is old he will not turn from it.
Moreen, Sydney, Australia
This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. (John 15:8 NIV)
Kathy, Austin Luke 24:49 NIV
Jesus said, “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
Jane Mattox from Lubbock,Texas: 1 “Let not you heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.” 2″In my Father’s house are many mansions;if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” 3″ And if I go and prepare a place for you,I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”
John 14:1-3 NKJV
Gill Lancaster UK
Therefore as the elect of God, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering Collosians 3 v 12 (NKJV)
Sarah, Wichita Falls, TX
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 6:33, NIV 2000
Kathleen, Chester VA: “For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” I Corinthians 13:12 (NIV)
Julie ~ Queen Creek, AZ “He lets me rest in green meadows;
he leads me beside peaceful streams.” Psalm 23:2 (NLT)
Erin from Detroit, MI
The Lord your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.
(Zephaniah 3:17 ESV)
Susan, Pittsburgh, PA
IN REPENTANCE AND REST IS YOUR SALVATION, IN QUIETNESS AND TRUST IS YOUR STRENGTH
ISAIAH 30:15 NIV
Leah Johnson, Apple Valley, CA
“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” 2 Corinthians 10:4
Kate DeWys
Zeeland, Michigan
“Above all, love each other deeply, because lxove covers over a multitude of sins.”
1 Peter 4 vs. 8 TNIV
Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV
Sue from Chadron, Nebraska
Psalm 139:23-24 NIV
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.”
Tolu, Boston MA
Lamentation 3: 21-24 (NIV)
Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: 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. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”