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.
================
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.
===================
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.
==============
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
Christina, Longmont, CO
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
Amherst, VA
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.
Marcia B.
Salem, IN
“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
Hebrews 4:16 NIV
Cheya, Houston. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high. (Luke 24:49 ESV)
Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10
Leslie
Rochester, MN
Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7 NIV
Kristin – Jacksonville, AL
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. (Colossians 3:12,13 ESV)
Lisa Maynard, Marion IN
2 Corinthians 10:4
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. (NIV)
Redfield, AR
Galatians 3:5 (NKJV)
[5] Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?—
Galatians 3:5 (NKJV)
Pamela, from La Ceiba, Honduras
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 2 Cor 8:9 NKJV
Carrie, Cary, NC: When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness. Proverbs 31:26 (NLT)
Kristia
Clinton, KY
The wise see danger ahead and avoid it, but fools keep going and get into trouble. (Proverbs 27:12 NCV)
Valerie, Taylors, sc
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
I John 5:14, NIV
Beth, Edmond, OK –
1 Thess. 4:11 NIV Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you.
Monica, Newbury Park Ps. 90:12 So, teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom. NASB
“If you confess with your mouth that,Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved,” Romans 10:9 NLT
Tisha, San Antonio
I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 34:4 (NIV)
Lindsey Johnson
San Antonio
Psalm 40:1 NLT
I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry.
Kelli- Watkins, CO Galatians 5:16 NKJV “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. Revelation 21.14 ESV
Kelly, Bryan, TX
“Come to me, all of you who are tired and have heavy loads, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28 NCV
He is the one who comes after me… the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.
NIV Life Application
Peg Buchanan
Beechmont. Kentucky
My verse was from John 1. :27
Life Application. NIV
Thank you!
Peg Buchanan
Lauralee Courtney, Austin, TX
She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
Proverbs 31:25 NIV
Michelle, Alberta, Canada
“For you make me glad, O Lord; I sing for joy at the works of your hands.”
– Psalm 92:4 NIV
In everything you do put God First, and He will direct you and Crown your Efforts with Success.
Proverbs 3:6
Deb, Lansdale, PA
The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.
1 Thessalonians 5:24 NIV
Noreen
Calgary, AB
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
Colossians 3:12 (NIV)
Amy, Fairview, TN –
“Your words were found, and I ate them. Your words became a delight to me and the joy of my heart, for I am called by Your name, Yahweh God of Hosts.” (Jeremiah 15:16 HCSB)
Olivia,West Sussex, UK “But one thing I do (it is my one aspiration): forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead” Philippians 3 v13 (Amplified)
Christine LA
Jeremiah 33:3 NIV
‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us–whatever we ask–we know that we have what we asked of him.” 1 John 5:14-15 NIV
Francine Blanthorn Crown city, OH.
Carol, Belleville, ON: …You will forget the shame of your youth…. Isaiah 54:4c NIV
N Fort Myers, Florida
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;
I PETER 3:15 NKJV
Tabitha, Milan, MI
“Show me your ways, O Lord teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” Psalm 24:4-5 NIV
Mary, Marshfield WI
Give back to me the deep delight of being saved by you;
Let your willing spirit sustain me.
Psalm 51:12
The Voice
Sherree from Mansfield, TX
Hebrews 10:23 NET
And let us hold unwaveringly to the hope that we confess, for the one who made the promise is trustworthy.
Susie – Garland, TX
Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9 NIV
Shaci- Aztec, New Mexico
Job 8:21 NIV
He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.
Karin
Clinton, NJ
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
Megan, Fairborn, OH:
Zephaniah 3:17 NIV
17 The Lord your God is with you,
the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
but will rejoice over you with singing.
Kim
Orange City
Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:33
NIV
John 15:26, NLT
But I will send you the Advocate – the Spirit of Truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me.
Hudson, NC
The LORD is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.
Psalm 28:7 NLT
Katie in San Antonio, TX
Philippians 2:3-4 (ESV)
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Pat, Vicksburg
Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJ
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.
Brandy A., Cross Anchor, SC
Since God chose you to be the holy people whom he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12 (NLT)
Abbigail, Rochester WA
“Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:4 NIV
Betty Clark – Ann Arbor, MI “But blessed is the woman who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. She will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7-8 NIV
Matthew 6:34 TLB
“So don’t be anxious about tomorrow. God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time.”
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