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
Anna from Seattle, WA
“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.” Zephaniah 3:17
Kim Dent, Corrales, NM Psalm 91:6 …nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. NIV
Paige ATL NIV Isaiah 54:8
In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment,
but with everlasting kindness
I will have compassion on you,”
says the LORD your Redeemer.
Sally, St. Paul, MN 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Col. 3:12 NIV
You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.
Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)
Donna
Ponder, TX
“For we live by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7 NIV
BROOKE- DALLAS
“Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed; let them be ashamed which transgresses without cause.: KJV
But the one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does.
Anita
James 1:25 (NIV)
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
1Corinthians 6:19-20 ESV
Denise 🙂
New Market, AL
Do not quench the Spirit; do not despise prophetic utterances. But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil.
1 Thessalonians 5:19-22
Sue, Clemmons, NC
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Galatians 5:22-23a
Jennifer Wylie, Texas
Do everything without complaining and arguing.
Phil 2:14 (NLT)
Psalm 90:12 “So teach us to number our days, That we may present to You a heart of wisdom.”
Luke 9:23
Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross daily and follow me.”
Johnna, Bulverde, TX
Psalm 40:4 (NASB)
“How blessed is the man who has made the Lord his trust, and has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood.”
Kim S., Edmonds, WA, 1 Cor. 6:19-20, ESV: “Or do you not know thst your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. ~ Genesis 50:20
Jenn, Washington, DC. ” . . being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.” Romans 4:21 NIV
To grant those who mourn in Zion,
Giving them a garland instead of ashes,
The oil of gladness instead of mourning,
The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting.
So they will be called oaks of righteousness,
The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified. (Isaiah 61:3 NASB)
Syneva – Topeka, KS
Cindy, Tulsa, OK…..I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope.
Psalm 130:5
Talia, Cincinnati Ohio
“Work willingly at whatever you do as though you were working for the Lord, rather than for people.” Colossians 3:23 NLT
Stephanie – Tampa, FL
Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. Proverbs 119:35 (NIV)
Philippians 4:13 (KJV)
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Sharen,Platte City,Mo
Psalm 37:31 (hcsb)
The instruction of her God is in her heart; her steps do not falter.
Kim, Huffman. “As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive” (Colossians 3:12-13, NRSV).
Jill Sayles, Puyallup, Wa
Psalm 103:3-5
NIV
“who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
Psalm 145:1 NLT
I will exalt you, my God and King, and praise your name forever and ever.
Auneca from Donalsonville GA
Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. (1 Peter 3:4 NIV)
Kimberly, Cypress
“You make known to me the path of life;
in Your presence there is fullness of joy;
at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.
Psalm 16:11 ESV
Brittney
Lexington, KY
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Galatians 6:9(NIV)
Melissa, Vicksburg, MS: “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.'” Matthew 16:24, NLT
So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it. Colossians 3:12-14 MSG
“You hem me in, behind and before, and You lay Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me. It is high; I cannot attain it…How precious to me are Your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!” Psalm 139:5-6,17
Stephanie, Lititz, PA
Colossians 3:12-13 NET
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.
Grace, age 5
Psalm 106:1
Praise the Lord! Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love ensures forever.
Mary Jane, Troy KS
“Be joyful 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
Darcie L. Sheridan, WY
An intelligent person aims at wise action, but a fool starts off in many directions. Proverbs 17:24 TEV
Kylie, Wichita, KS
Proverbs 31:13-15 (NIV)
She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
Alexia-Champaign, IL
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you.
Psalm 42:1 (NIV)
Cindy in Raleigh NC
Psalm 56:3 HCSB
When I am afraid, I will trust in you.
Psalm 65:11 NIV
You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts
overflow with abundance.
Megan, St. Louis, Mo
Romans 12:12, NIV
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Nikki, Houston, TX
“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirt.” Psalm 34:17-18
“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.” Psalm 28:7 (NIV)
Kristin, Clearwater, FL
Clarksville, TN
“He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure.” Isaiah 33:6 NIV
Ellen, Houston. “When you talk, do not say harmful thimgs, but say what people need–words that will help others become stronger. Then what you say will do good to those who listen to you.’ Ephesians 4:29. NCV
Debra, Mobile, AL
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deception philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. Colossians 2:8 (NIV 84)
Psalm 92:1,2,4
It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to Your name, O Most High,
To declare Your selfless love in the morning and Your faithfulness at night.
For You, O Lord have made me happy by Your work.
I will sing for joy because of what You have done.
Aimee
Saskatchewan, Canada
Brenda, Alpharetta, GA
This is a continuation of my verse from last time:
so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
1 Thessalonians 4:12 NIV
Ann, Prior Lake, MN
“It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to the Most High. It is good to proclaim Your unfailing love in the morning and Your faithfulness in the evening.”
Psalm 92:1-2 NLT
Susan ~ Kearney,NE ~ I Corinthians 7:34
An unmarried woman or virgin
is concerned about the Lord’s affairs:
Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord
in both body and spirit.
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13 NIV