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
Michaela Gadsden AL 1 Corinthians 13:1 ESV
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
Libby, Springfield, MO
Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You. I will praise You as long as I live, and in Your name I will lift up my hands.
Psalms 63:3-4, NIV
Karen, Clarksville, “Therefore, God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, accepting on another and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as The Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive.” Colossians 3:12-13 HCSB
Carrollton, TX The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 ESV
Terri from Morgantown, West Virginia:
“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT)
Cheri, Savage MN
Psalm 103:1-4 ESV
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy
from Brandon, MS: I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” Lamentations 3:24, NIV
Sam, Rowley, IA
1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV
No temptation has overtaken you except as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
‘See I have engraved you on the palms of My Hands; your walls are ever before me.”
Isaiah 49:16
Lindsay, Evanston, IL “fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)
Barbara, Spring Tx
Col 3:12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. NIV
Marie- Franklin TN
Wait for the Lord;
Be strong and take heart
And wait for the Lord
Psalm 27:14 (NIV)
Britney- Concord, NC
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. -Psalm 73:26 [ESV]
Paige, indiananpolis
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. (Isaiah 26:3 ESV)
Mindy- Andalusia, AL
Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. (Joshua 1:8 NIV)
Anna Gibbany, Harrison AR
“But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives,
and he will stand upon the earth at last.” Job 19:25 (NET)
John 3:16—NIV
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only
Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but
have everlasting life.
Lisa A, Frisco, TX
Rejoice always, pray continually. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17. NIV
Sherri from Galena, OH
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:1, NIV
Natalie, Houston,
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. . Colossians 3:12-13 The NET Bible
Kim, Fredericksburg, VA
“Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
Psalm 37:4, NIV
Kim from Dimmitt, Texas
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 NIV
“These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”
Bonnie, Alexandria, LA
“Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other, let us show the truth by our actions. Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and He knows everything.” 1 John 3:18-21 NLT
Brea Rich from Ripley, MS
Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.
Psalm 115:1 NIV84
Teri
Wayne, MI
But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. – Romans 5:8 (NIV)
Lisa from Leesburg, FL
“Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 HCSB
Tammy, Lawrenceville Zephaniah 3:17 NIV 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.
Kristi from Lee’s Summit, MO
I call on the Lord in my distress and he answers me. Save me O Lord from lying lips and from deceitful tongues.
Psalm 120:1-2 NIV
Mimi, Versailles, Ky “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.” 1John 3:16aNIV
Michele-Lubbock, TX
Psalms 91:7-8
“A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand;
But it shall not come nigh thee.”
“Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of
The wicked.”
Dea in Mountain Home, AR Psalm 92:2. NIV. To proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night
Jeannine Hale
Eagan,MN
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1:5-8 (NIV)
Ruth, Plano, TX. But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)
Victoria, BC, Canada
James 3:17 (KJV)
“but the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.:
Suzanne: Birmingham: “My flesh and my heart may fail but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. “. Psalm 73: 26 NIV
Sue, Oktaha,OK
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. James 1:17 NKJV
Isaiah 48:17 NIV
This is what The Lord says- your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am The Lord your God who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.
I John 4:4
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
NIV
Rayleigh Sun Edmond, Ok
But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 1 Peter 3:15 NIV
Kelley, Des Moines WA, NIV Jeremiah 17:10
Rachel, Mt. Carmel, PA, NIV – Ecclesiastes 8:15 – “So I command the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun.”
Patty, Shelton, WA
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Colossians 3:12 The NET Bible
Diane, Phoenix
“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.”
Luke 24:49 The NET Bible
Bev, Morristown, Tn
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
(James 1:2, 3 NIV)
Laurie, Gibsonville, NC
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
Cindy, Longmont CO
For you, O Lord, have made me HAPPY by Your work. I will sing for joy because of what You have done.
Psalm 92:4. The NET Bible
Marianne from Carrollton, Texas
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. (Matthew 6:28 NIV)
Misty, North Charleston
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience
Colossians 3:12 (NET)
Kelly, Enid OK
The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness all who keep his covenant and obey his demands.
Psalm 25:10 NLT
” If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.” 2 Timothy 2:13
Jamie, Brentwood, Tn