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
Lynda in Ocala, FL: “…who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” Psalm 103:3-5 NIV
Laura, Savannah, GA
“for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” Philippians 2:13 (NIV)
Cindy Beecher, Wausau, WI
Jude 25
to our one God, our only Savior, through Jesus Christ, our Master, be glory, majesty, strength, and rule before all time, and now, and to the end of all time. Yes. (MSG)
Abbie, Omaha, NE
Jude 24 – 25 (NIV) To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy- to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen!
Tammy, Van, TX 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)
Clancie, Elizabethtown, KY, “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” John 14:21, NIV (1984)
Doris, Whiteville,NC
Romans 1:17 ESV
For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
Leah
Brandon, MS
Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.
Deuteronomy 7:9 NIV
Kristen Sistrunk
Round Rock
13 For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. (NIV)
Juleann, Wayne, Colossians 3:12 (KJV) Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
Linda, Mandeville, LA
Don’t let your heart be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.
John 14:1 NLT
Leslie Young
Wisner, La.
“All your children will be taught by the Lord,
and great will be their peace.”
Isaiah 54:13 NIV
Missy Newman Andersonville, TN NKJV
Matthew 5:13 – You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
Sarah from Brownwood
Matthew 7:7-8. NLT
Keep on asking, and you will receive what you are asking for.
Keep on seeking and you will find.
Keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you,
For everyone who asks will receive, everyone who seeks will find,
And to everyone who knocks the door will be opened.
Michelle Weihing – Frisco, TX – 3/15 – Mark 4:14 NET – The sower sows the word.
Stacey, Royal Oak, MI
A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. Luke 6:45 NIV
Mary, Barboursville, VA
“He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.”
Revelation 3:5 NKJV
PRAISE HIM!!!
Erika Boen — valley springs, sd
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:4-5
Susan. Decatur,IL
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
Sheila
Laueel, MS
Colossians 3:12 (ESV)
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.
Ruth Cherry, Royse City, Texas
“Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”
Romans 12:13
Wendy G
Anderson ,IN
NLT
2 Chronicles 16:9 (a)
The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.
Valerie M.
Evart, MI
It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, your faithfulness in the evening
Psalms 92:2 NLT
Paula, Russell KY
“God is not a man, so He does not lie. He is not human, so He does not change His mind. Has He ever spoken and failed to act? Has He ever promised and not carried it through?”
Numbers 23:19 NLT
Juanita Perry, Raleigh, NC
Ephesians 1:13-14 ESV
In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
Christy, Conifer, Colorado
Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, bu never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”
Haggai 1:5-6
Desiree, Carlsbad
Psalm 139:14-18 (NASB)
“I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;
Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Your book were all written
The days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them.
How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand.
When I awake, I am still with You.”
Erin, Denver: Psalm 18:32 NIV: It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure.
TammyT, Woodstock GA
Isaiah 26:3
NKJV
3 You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.
In the multitude of my thoughts within me, thy comforts delights my soul! Ps 94:19 ASV
Isaiah 43:18-19(NIV) ” Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”
Kathy from Chandler, OK
2 John 1:6 NIV “And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. “
Alicia- Chicago, IL
“Pray to me when you are in trouble!
I will deliver you, and you will honor me!”
Psalm 50:15 net
Melissa Bagwell, Ft. Worth, TX-Psalm 119:2 (NASB) How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, Who seek Him with all their heart.
Lindsey Buchanan, Saint Augustine, FL “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.” Colossians 3:23 NIV
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV
Colossians 4:2
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. (NIV)
Vanessa from Victoria, TX
12 And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good? Deuteronomy 10:12-13 NIV
Becky, Whitehall, WI “But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.” 2 Peter 3:13 NIV
Dawn Bowman, Denver CO
2 For the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.
3 Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
2 John 1:2-3(KJV)
Mary
Silver Spring, Maryland
Galatians 1:10 (ESV)
“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.”
Tracy from Lake St. Louis, Missouri
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Romans 12:12
NIV
Julie Moore Huffman; Springdale, AR: ” And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17 NIV
Kim, Nashville, TN
Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load.
Galatians 6:4-5 (NIV)
Lisa Auten; Rogers, AR: “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17 NIV
Stephanie
Madison, Ms
“Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking in anything.”
James 1:4 NIV
Debbie Gentry, Poplarville , MS
He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does The Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8 (NIV)
Katie Melton from Loganville, GA
“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
Sarah B from gainesville, ga
“For the Lord your God is living among you.
He is a mighty savior.
He will take delight in you with gladness.
With his love, he will calm all your fears.
He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” Zephaniah 3:17 NLT
Stephanie Parrish, Lynchburg, VA
“So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone.” -James 2:24 NLT