Refined Character: Let Our Lights Shine

“Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest- I would flee away and stay in the desert; Selah, I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm.”  (Psalm 55:6-8 NIV)

Refined 

We all experience thoughts like this. As a matter of fact, I believe as I ended my time as PTO President a few years back, I found my wings and flew to my desert. People’s actions can be crazy! Do I get an Amen? I can chop this particular experience as part of refined training. During this desert time, I removed myself from any drama. For this to happen, basically, you have to remove yourself from most people. This past year I gradually began to volunteer little steps at a time. For whatever reason, I told my husband two nights ago- you stay at the baseball game and I will go to the mandatory soccer meeting. I am not sure why? Actually, everything pointed me this direction.

Wednesday’s blog

Remember Wednesday’s blog? Attitudes can take us into a prison or release us from chains. Amazing timing for this blog. We discussed how transformations would be seen by changes made in our attitudes and actions as we grow in our relationship with Christ. Into the meeting, a parent leaves upset. I  comment how as parents we cannot come against each other – I confess, I am a reformed momma bear. No way to saturate those experiences with honey. During an all-star game two and a half years ago, momma bear became upset. To place this in perspective, the children were only six and seven years old and in a different league. Apologies were made and accepted. This has been completely removed from my mind. After making that statement- a parent in a snide tone says, “Well,Vicki, I guess you have changed.” Yes! Thank you, I have. OMGoodness! What a quick reminder, we can never get comfortable to think we all walk in freedom. I honestly had to chuckle when I arrived home and re-read this blog. I thought, God, you sure had this one pegged today. Isn’t God so good! He promises as we cast our cares on the Lord, He will sustain us; He will never let the righteous fall. (Psalm 55:22)

Personality traits

A friend posted a short devotion yesterday how personality traits can be considered a liability. However, God may see this trait different than our view. How true! My passion for releasing Biblical truth would not be possible if passion was not already a dominant trait. The same passion for fairness in a soccer game or passion for truth in other areas had to be refined the direction God wanted to use in His perfect will. Did I have to change? Yes. Who do we want to please? Our heavenly Father, God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Will you have to change? Yes. We cannot react improper to people or drama all our lives. We cannot purposely avoid these situations either. Yet when God has molded and refined us for such a time as this, we are ready to confront darkness with God’s light within us.

Forward Friday! Let’s move forward refined as bright lights in the dark world we live and for the people within our path.

Be encouraged!