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.)
12Â Therefore, as Godâs chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Â 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, âGod opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.â
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.â
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
Kari, Frisco, Texas
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7
Rachel G in Katy, TX
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18 NIV
Sherri Smith, Bellevue NE
In the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7, NASB
Linda, Longview: My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26 NIV
Meegan, Kansas City, MO
Yet I still belong to you; you are holding my right hand. You will keep on guiding me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. (Psalms 73:23, 24 NLT)
E’Von,Houston,
Psalms 119:105 (NIV)
Your word is a lamp for my feet,
a light on my path.
Carla, Pierre, SD
and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. Eph. 6:15 NIV
Kristi, Austin
Therefore, as Godâs chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Col. 3:12 NIV
Katharine from Royal Oak, MI
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13 (ESV)
Martha from Corpus Christi
Do not be anxious about anything,but in every situation by prayer and petition,with thsnksgiving present your requests to God. Phil. 4:6 NIV
Melissa, St. Mary’s County, MD “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” Colossians 3:12-13 KJV
Ali S. Midwest City, OK
Colossians 3:12 (NIV)
Therefore, as Godâs chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
I’m doing verse 13 as my 7th verse!
Carolyn from Nashville, TN
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.
Isaiah 41:13 NIV
Andrea – Grant, NE
“You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy” (Psalms 30:11 NLT)
Charlotte, Houston,
“For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
2 Corinthians 12:10
ESV
Sarah Sykes, Arkadelphia, AR
Psalm 71:14 (ESV)
“But I will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more.”
Dimy from Griffin, Ga.:
“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)
Barbara,Tomball
But The Lord is faithful
2 Thessalonians 3:3 NLT
Kristin, Winnsboro Texas, “Therefore, Godâs chosen ones, holy and loved, put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience…” Colossians 3:12-13 HCSB
Tabitha Schenkel
Liberty, NC
Proverbs 3:5
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, do not depend on your own understanding. “
Stacy Carmel,IN. Ah Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! NOTHING is too hard for you! Jer 32:17 ESV
Sound familiar? Believing God!
Jean Herrick from Princeton Maine
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 (ESV)
Natalie Dawes, Calgary, AB, Canada
In the same way, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves in humility to one another, because God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
1 Peter 5:5 (The NET Bible)
Deborah – Port St. Joe, FL
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.
Isaiah 26:3-4 NLT
Amanda in Daphne, AL
James 5:16 (NIV)
16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
There is none holy like the Lord: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God. 1 Samuel 2:2 ESV
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:6-7 (NIV)
Ashley, Petersburg
“The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows those who take refuge in Him.” Nahum 1:7, ESV
Pam Bryant
Kountze, Tx.
Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding. Prov.3:13 NKJV
Kerry Cotten, Jackson, TN
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15, NIV
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirableâif anything is excellent or praiseworthyâthink about such things.
Philippians 4:4-8 NKJV
Gretchen, Gahanna, Ohio– Who among the gods is like you, Lord? Who is like you–majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders? In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed.
Exodus 15:11 and 13b (NIV)
Susan,Fairhope,AL For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21 (NIV)
Melanie Toups
Bridge City, TX
The wicked borrow and does not pay back, but the righteous is gracious and gives. For those blessed by Him will inherit the land, but these cursed by Him will be cut off. –Psalm 37:21-22 NASB
Tara G.
Sherwood, AR
âYou have heard that it was said, âYou shall not commit adultery.â But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.
âIt was also said, âWhoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.â But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Matthew 5:27-33 (ESV)
Kathy SCF WI ‘Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.’ Hebrews 10:35 KJV
Bonnie Wallace, Charleston, SC
Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness.
1 Timothy 4:7 (NASB)
Dawn, Highlands Ranch, CO
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2 ESV)
Karen, Beech Island,SC
“These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.”
Revelation 17:14
Lori, Oil City
“who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.”
James 3:13 (NIV)
Odessa, TX
Because You are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me. Psalm 63:7-8 NIV
Amy, Tyler, TX
You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.
James 2:20-22
Nancy from West Grove, Pa.
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Galations 6:9
Rebecca
Owasso OK
1 Peter 5:5 NIV
“In the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
2 CORINTHIANS 4:19 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day
in Muscle Shoals, AL
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. Colossians 3:5-6 NIV
Chyrll, Memphis
If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. John 15:6 NASB
Carol from Kansas City:
Colossians 3:12 (NET)
12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,
Delores O. Lake Stevens, WA
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.
Zeph. 3:17 NLT
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:12-13 NIV