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
11 clothe me with skin and flesh and knit me together with bones and sinews? Job10 NIV
Psalm 139:5-6;17 NIV
“You hem me in behind and before and you lay your hand upon me. such knowlwdge is too wonderful for me, It is high I can not attain it. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them.”
Kathy Schettler
Boerne, TX
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16 ESV)
MaryJo, Indianapolis
…Don’t be afraid; just believe. Mark 5:36(b) NIV
Jean Grant, Carlisle PA
Nehemiah 6:9 (NIV)
They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.”But I prayed, “Now strengthen my hands.”
Stacy, Detroit
“a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,” Ecclesiastes 3:2 (NIV)
Cheryl from Brisbane, Australia
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13 NIV)
Lyndsay, New Castle, IN
“Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tender-hearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” –Col. 3:12–NLT
Andrea, New Brunswick, Canada
“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
Linda – Moneta Va
Psalms 18:28 NIV
You, O Lord keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darknesss to light.
Holly, Carrollton, GA “12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Collossians 3:12 (NIV)
Becca Frischhertz of Pearl River, LA
Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching that you have heard from me in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 1:13 (HCSB)
Sharron Steele Hartselle, Al
Romans 12:2 NIV
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is; His good, pleasing and perfect will.
Kathy, Danvers
Psalm 141:3 NIV
Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD;
keep watch over the door of my lips.
…gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:23 NIV
Janet
Charleston, SC
For the Lord your God has arrived to live among you. He is a mighty savior. He will rejoice over you with great gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will exult over you by singing a happy song.
Zephaniah 3:17
D’Anna Nowack
Kilgore, Texas
Psalm 91: 13-16 (NIV)
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 “Because he[b] loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”
ack
Birmingham, Alabama
“Set your mind on the things above not on the things that are on the Earth.”
Colossians 3:2 NASB
Jamie, Suwanee, GA
\And you who are younger must follow your leaders. But all of you, leaders and followers alike, are to be down to earth with each other, for—
God has had it with the proud, But takes delight in just plain people. 1 Peter 5:5 (the Message)
It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name most high; to declare your steadfast love in the morning and your faithfulness by night.
Psalm 92:1-2
But Samuel replied:
“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as much as in obeying the Lord?
To obey is better than sacrifice,
and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
1 Samuel 15:22
New International Version (NIV)
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV) If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Kristin Cho; Northville Michigan
Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from Him.
Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth.
Amen
Psalm 127:3-4 NIV
Karen from Norfolk, VA: Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Psalm 139:6(NIV)
Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. Psalm 105:4 NIV
Ashley from Huddleston, VA – “We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.” 2 Corinthians 4:10 NIV
Joan G., Allentown. Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me — watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly. Matthew 11:28-30 MSG
Beth, Ohio
Colossians 3:13
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Amen!
Dorinda, O’Fallon, Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10 NIV
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly lived, clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12. NIV
Matthew 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Sue, Oviedo FL
Proverbs 31:25 NET
“She is clothed with strength and honor, and she can laugh at the time to come.”
Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. NIV
Marilyn – Rochester Hills, Michigan
“The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call
on Him in truth.”
Psalm 145:8
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him ,and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. Psalms 28:7 niv
Mary from Indian Head,MD
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from Thy presence,
And do not take Thy Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation,
And sustain me with a willing spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors Thy ways,
And sinners will be converted to Thee.
Psalm 51:10-13 NASB
Susan, Charleston, SC
Colossians 3:12 NET
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,
Marilyn – Rochester Hills, Michigan
“The Lord is near to all who call on Him,
to all who call on Him in truth.”
Psalm 145:18 – NIV
Deb, Becker, MN
I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free. Ps 119:32 NIV
“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of My Father in heaven. Matthew 18:10 NIV
Sandy from Cedar Rapids,Iowa
Psalm 57:2 NIV
I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills His purpose for me.
Kristi, Pensacola, FL:
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
1 Peter 2:9, NIV
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12 NIV
Kelly Haigler, Wingate NC
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up. 1 Thessolonians 5:11 NIV
Michelle, Exton, PA
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NKJV
Jennifer, Monroe, GA
Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must cloth yourselves with tenderhearted mercy ,kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. Colossians 3:12-14 (NLT)
“But as for me, my contentment is not in wealth but in seeing you and knowing all is well between us. And when I awake in Heaven, I will be fully satisfied, for I will see you face to face.” Psalm 17:15 TLB
Jill E., Export, PA
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Colossians 3:12 NIV
Jacqueline, Lancaster Co, PA
Luke 9:23
“Then he said to them all, ‘If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.'”
Woodstock, GA
Psalm 143:9-10 NIV
“Rescue me from my enemies, O Lord, for I hide myself in you. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.”