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.
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.
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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
Sarah from Jay, OK
“Find rest O my soul in God alone; for He is the one who gives me confidence. He alone is my rock and my salvation. He is my fortress, I will not be shaken.”
Psalm 62:5-6
Georgana, Leo, Indiana
“Do not let your hearts be troubled.You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:1-6 NIV
Ashley T – Charlotte, NC – “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!” Romans 11:33 NASB
Kelly
Fort Smith, AR
Colossians 3:13 “accepting one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another.” HCSB
Pat from Cleburne, Texas
“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7 NIV
Spring, Texas
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith excellence, to excellence, knowledge, to knowledge, self-control; to self control, perseverance; to perseverance, godliness; to godliness, brotherly affection; to brotherly affection, unselfish love.
II Peter 1:5-7 (NET)
Nancy, Champaign, IL
Ephesians 4:32
New King James Version (NKJV)
32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD of God.” Psalm 20:7
Sarah, Kuwait
The Lord is my strength and my [impenetrable] shield; my heart trusts in, relies on, and confidently leans on Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song will I praise Him.
Psalm 28:7 AMP
Amen. I need the scriptures to guard myself from negative attacks.
Matthew 5:16 NIV
“IN the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Edgerton, MN
Joani, Jacksonville, FL (I think I forgot to post on the 15th)…Now faith is confidence in what we hoped for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)
Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, but the rich in his humiliation because as a flower of the field he will pass away. For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass, its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits. James 1:9-11 NKJV
Victoria W., Bryant, AR
“Love the Lord, all His faithful ones. The Lord protects the loyal, but fully repays the arrogant. Be strong and courageious,all you who put your hope in the Lord.”
-Psalm 31:23-24 (HCSB)
Col. 2:6-7 (NIV)
So then,just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him,rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
John 3:10-15; NIV
“You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “yet, you do now know these things? I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know and we testify to what we have seen, and you people still do not believe our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe. How then will you believe when I speak to you of heavenly things? No one has gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven – the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so shall the Son of Man be lifted up, so that whoever believes in him will have eternal life.
Kathi from Enid, Oklahoma.
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not on thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge HIM and HE will direct thy ways.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Leigh Ann
Gallatin, TN
“Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.” Ecclesiastes 11:1 KJV
Ruth C, Atlanta
This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.
Psalm 34:6 ESV
Carolyn R.
Houston, TX
God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.
-1 Corinthians 1:9 NCV
Chandler, Arizona
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Colossians 3.12-13 (NIV)
Andrea, Greeley CO,
“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promised to her!”
Luke 1:45 NIV
Marci, chas. SC
The heavens tell about the glory of God. The skies show that his hands created them.
Psalm 19:1 NIV
Lori LeBlanc Grundy, Vivian,LA
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. (Psalms 23:5 NKJV)
Lori, Springfield, Mo. This is he of whom I said, after me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. Jn 1:30 (KJV)
Katie from Pittsburgh
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26 NIV
Micah 6:8 ESV
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Dori Cook
Spring Hill, TN
Heather, Ooltewah, TN
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 NET
Elizabeth
Wilmette, IL
But now in Christ Jesus you who were once far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
Ephesians 2:13 NIV
Better late than never…
Heidi, Victoria, BC, Canada
Romans 12:3 (NIV)
For by the grace given to me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought but rather think of yourself with sober judgement in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each one of you.
Charlotte
Mesquite, Tx
If you declare with your mough”Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 10:9 NIV
Cheryl Adams
Hephzibah, Ga.
And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:39, 40 NKJV
Isaiah 40:31 NIV
Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Ellen K in Findlay, Ohio
Psalms 103:1 NASB
“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and that is within me bless His holy name.”
Sheri – Milwaukee, WI
But someone will say, “You have faith: I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.”
james 2:18 NIV
Nicole from Gilbert, now Chandler. 🙂
Isaiah 26:4 NIV
Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.
Sorry I’m so late on this!
Tonya, Searcy, AR
“The LORD says, “Forget what happened before, and do not think about the past. Look at the new thing I am going to do. It is already happening. Don’t you see it?'”
Isaiah 43:18-19a (NCV)
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phil. 4:13 NKJV
Lauren, Bonner Springs
Indeed, the Protector of Israel does not slumber or sleep.
Psalm 121:4 HCSB
Make me to know your ways O Lord, teach me your path. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation: for you I wait all the day long Psalm 25:4-5 (ESV)
Nancy from Meridian, Idaho
“May these worlds of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord my rock and my redeemer.”
Psalm 19:14 NIV
Sherry
Oklahoma
Psalm 28:7 NLT
“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.”
Charlotte, Frankston, Texas
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength;they shall mount up with wings as eagles;they shall run and not be weary; They shall walk and not grow faint. Isaiah 40:31 NKJ
Beverly from Amarillo, TX Rom.12:2 NIV
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be transfomed 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.
Rae from Greenwood, AR. “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.” NIV
Joy, Warrior, AL
Romans8:13-15 esv
For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Colossians 3:12 NIV
Charlotte, Tomball, TX, “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,” I Peter 1:6, NKJV
Chats worth, Ga
“But the holy spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. There is no law against these things!” Galatians 5:22-23 NLT
3/15 Memory Verse
” Be still and know that I am GOD, I will be exalted among nations. I will be exalted in the earth.”
NIV
Jennifer Haslet, Tx
2 Corinthians 4:16-17 NIV
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.