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
Cindy L. , Madison, AL
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”
Matthew 4:4 NIV
Meredith
Menlo Park, CA
“But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the LORD God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.”
Psalm 73:28 ESV
Psalm 71:11,12 NIV
They say, “God has forsaken him;
pursue him and seize him,
for no one will rescue him.”
Do not be far from me, my God;
come quickly, God, to help me.
Nikki, Wichita
“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering;”(Colossians 3:12)The Webster Bible.
Michael Ann from Irvine, CA
Psalm 40: 1-3 NIV
1I waited patiently for the Lord;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the Lord
and put their trust in him.
Julie from Granbury, TX
Psalm 103:1-2 (CVUK)
“With all my heart
  I praise the Lord,
  and with all that I am
  I praise his holy name!
2Â With all my heart
  I praise the Lord!
  I will never forget
  how kind He has been.”
Annmarie, Livermore
“He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.”
1 Peter 2:24 NLT
“The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul;
the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;”
Psalm 19:7 NIV
Michelle from Columbus, Texas: But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. James 3:17, 18
Katherine, Atlanta GA
It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; to declare Your steadfast love in the morning, and Your faithfulness by night. Psalm 92:1-2 EVS
Melissa in Greer, SC (late, but memorizing!!)
I in them and You in Me, that they
may be made perfect in one and that
the world may know that You have
sent Me, and have loved them as You
have loved Me.
John 17:23 NKJV
Lisa from Birmingham, AL
Job 42:2
“I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.”
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Col 3:12
Lisa, Mauldin, SC
See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. Hebrews 12:15 (NIV)
Barbara Moran
Celebration, FL
but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31, ESV
Amber from Fort Worth:
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. ~Romans 1:16
What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! Romans 6:15 NIV
7YO: Love is not rude. It is not selfish, and it cannot be made angry easily. 1 Corinthians 13:5a NIV
3YO: The Lord is my shepherd. Psalm 23:1a KJV
Brooke from Waco,TX – He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken. Psalm 62:2 (NLT)
Sara, Garden City KS: Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (Colossians 3:13 NIV)
Brenda, Midlothian, VA “I know Whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.” 2 Timothy 1:12, NASB
Sara, Greenville, SC – “Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe 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.” Colossians 3:12-13 NLT
Cathy, Houston. The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit. Proverbs 15:4, NIV.
Dawn, Gainesville Ga: 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.”
Lisa, Nederland, Tx
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to The Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God in whom I trust.”
Psalms 91:1-2, NIV
Evansville, IN
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” Colossians 3:12 NIV
Kimber, Panama City, FL
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. (Ephesians 1:18, 19a NIV)
Colossians 3: 12,13 The NET Bible
12 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.
Amber Burger
Fort Worth TX
Colossians 1:14
…in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sin.
Sue
St. Louis
He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him.
Ephesians 1:9 NASB
Candice C from Covington,La
Galations 6:9 NIV
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Barbara- Birmingham Al
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Hebrews 11:6 NIV
Elizabeth, Gainesville, GA
“He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the alien by giving him food and clothing.”
Deuteronomy 10:18, NAS
Amanda
Bedford,Tx
“For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which Is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory.”
2 Timothy 2:10
NASB
Amber, Clarksville, TN
So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Galatians 6:9 NLT
Stephanie, Hamilton GA 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.
April
Pittsburgh,PA
Col. 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,
Michelle from Waterloo, Ontario
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man, that is impossible. But with God, all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26 NIVR
Tracie, Taylorville, IL
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
Psalm 19:14 KJV
Virginia from Elgin. Psalm 51:16-17 NLT
You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken & repentant heart, O God.
Peace I leave you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.
John 14:27 NASB
In the morning Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.
Psalm 5:3 NIV
I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.
Psalm 40:8
Knoxville, IA
Phil. 3:15-17 (ESV)
“Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.
Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.”
Hebrews 4:14-15a NIV
Therefore since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the son of God, let us hold firmly to that faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses.
Cyndi, Lexington, KY
I have no greater joy than to hear tht my children are walking in the truth.
III John 1:4 NIV
Gwen, Coweta Oklahoma
This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it. Isaiah 30:15 NIV
Becky Venhaus from McKinney, 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)
Courtney H., Flowery Branch, GA
“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand.”
Psalm 37: 23-24 (NKJV)
Karen -Wyoming
Colossians 3:12 (NIV) – “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.”
Stephanie; Auburn, AL; “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” (Luke 6:27-28, NIV)