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
Kristy, Newkirk, Oklahoma.
I delight to do Your will, O my God;
Your Law is within my heart.”
Psalm 40:8 NASB
Courtney Head, Little Rock AR
Jeremiah 17:9 NIV
“The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, who can understand it?”
Ashley Skinta, Frisco, TX
And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Deuteronomy 6:5-9
Beth, St. Louis
Commit your way to The Lord; trust in him, and he will act.
Psalm 37:5 ESV
Maria Oxford, MS
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Proverbs 17:17 (NIV)
Ashleigh, Lewistown, MT
“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever. Amen!” Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV)
Julie, Redlands CA
“When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then Ephraim went to Assyria and sent to King Jareb; yet he cannot cure you, nor heal you of your wound.”
Hosea 5:13 (NKJV)
Kristi, White Pigeon, MI – Hebrews 12:28 “ Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,” NIV
Billie, Hot Springs, SD
Zephaniah 3:17
The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty, he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.
Rejoice 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)
Kimberly-Carlsbad
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)
Christine, Wichita, KS
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
Colossians3:12 (NIV)
Judy, Beaumont, CA
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?
Micah 6:8 NAS
Margie ~ San Angelo
Exodus 20:5 KJV Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
Sheena Brady Fairbanks, AK
Deut. 1:6 NIV
The LORD our God said to us at Horeb, You have stayed long enough at this mountain.
Liz, Costa Mesa
To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning,
And Your faithfulness by night.
Psalm 92:2 NASB
Susan, Carbondale IL
For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. (Romans 12:4, 5 NIV)
“Look to the Lord and his strength, seek his face always”
1 Chronicles 16:11 (NIV)
Angela, San Diego
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, 13 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 (NET)
Emily in Anchorage, AK
Ephesians 3:17-18 NIV
“so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ”
Jennifer, Kailua, HI:
Romans 8:6-The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.
Janice, Victoria BC
So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another and forgiving each other.
Colossians 3:12, 13a NAS
I chose this before I read the blog!
Jo from Fremont, CA
“Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.”
Proverbs 29:25. NIV
Paula, Houston, 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
Jonna, N. Hollywood, CA
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.
Lyli, Fort Lauderdale:
“The hope of the righteous brings joy, but the expectations of the wicked will perish” (Proverbs 10:28, ESV).
Rachael Clark, Jersey Shore, pa
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds”
Heb 10:24 (NIV)
Jodie from NY,NY
The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”
-Luke 17:5 NIV
My Bible study group and I will be memorizing one of your “clothing” choices, Beth….
Colossians 3:12 (with vs. 13 as an option if they choose to do it, too…)(NIV)
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.
Amberley – Pasco, WA
“Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.”
~Psalm 116:7 NIV84
There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears. Philippians 1:6 The Message
and
Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. Jonah 2:8 NIV
Kimberly Orr–Zionsville, Indiana
Midland, TX
Galatians 5:24 (HCSB)
Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Sarah Ensor in Bracknell, UK
“I love You, O Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
My God, my rock in whom I take refuge;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”
Psalm 18:1-2 NAS
Mississauga, ON, Canada
If you pour yourself out for the hungry
and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
then shall your light rise in the darkness
and your gloom be as the noonday.
And the Lord will guide you continually
and satisfy your desire in scorched places
and make your bones strong;
and you shall be like a watered garden,
like a spring of water,
whose waters do not fail
Isaiah 58:10-11
Karen S., Austin, TX
In the same way, you who are young, 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. 1Peter 5:5 (The NET Bible)
Beth
Draganesti,Romania
“You will know that I am the LORD, My people, when I open your graves and bring you up from them.” Ezekiel 37:13 HCSB
Mindy from Kimberly,AL – “After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully” – Acts 16:23, NIV
Robyn, Brooklyn, CT
In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;
Ephesians 6:16 ESV
Lisa
Hillsboro Or
Psalms 55:22 NLT
Give your burdens to the Lord, and He will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.
Pat Hilliard, OH
“She carefully watches all that goes on in her household and does not have to bear the consequences of laziness.” Proverbs 31:27 (NLT)
Beckie Potterfield, Florence, SC
Philippians 2:7 (NIV)
. . . but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
“Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.” Matt. 5:9 (NIV)
Angie Smth
Matthews, NC
“God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield to all who look to him for protection.” Psalm 18:30 NLT
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe yurselves with a heart of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing 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. Col. 3:12-13
Debbie, Corpus Christi:
In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness,gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
Galations 5:22-23 NAB
Myra, London, England
Romans 12:1-2 (KJV)
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrafice, holy and acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God”.
Sue – Troy, Michigan – “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. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.”
James 3:13-14 (NIV)
Colleen, Cape Town, South Africa
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 4: 14-16, NASB
Pamela New Bern, NC
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
Karol Ozark MO
“Above Him were seraphs, each with six wings: with two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet and with two they were flying.”
Isaiah 6:2 NIV