Refined Heart of Gold

“But He knows the way that I take [and He pays attention to it]. When He has tried me, I will come forth as [refined] gold [pure and luminous].” -JOB‬ ‭23:10‬ ‭AMP‬‬

We often hear the phrase "refine by fire." Gold goes through a refining process by fire that removes impurities. So when someone says, "you have a heart of gold" I can't help but think of the refining process that someone's heart has been through. The Lord knows the way we take, He sees every step, He pays attention and loves is so much. There are things in our lives- circumstances, challenges, relationships that "try" us, and even still God uses it all for good. We will come forth as refined gold! This is another verse that has brought me inspiration to the name Refined Heart Living. 

Refined Heart Living: Behind the Name

Refined Heart Living: Where did the name come from and what does it mean?

I started using the hashtag #RefinedHeart back in 2014 when I was living in Portland,OR. I had traveled to some tulip fields in April by myself and spent time wandering, praying, & reflecting. It was a week after Easter and Luke 24:32 kept running through my mind "They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” I thought about Jesus coming to these men after the resurrection and the way their hearts were burning, He had opened their minds to understand the Scriptures and had left them with a fervency for the word. I can recall reading a passage from @Shereadstruth saying "Do we continue down the road as a different person because we walk with Jesus?" I kept thinking about how God uses challenges to help us grow- through our weakness we are made strong through Christ's power and grace (2 Corinthians 12:9) We can come boldly to Jesus with our challenges and prayers knowing that He walks with us and knows our prayers before we even ask. So this was the start of documenting the refining of my own heart through the word, my circumstances and the way that God continued to move over the last several years. 

 I have always had such a passion for writing and journaling, but slowly I began to see that the Lord had something bigger in mind and that I needed to start writing and sharing more of my heart. Around the same time (April 2014) I had started a blog LightLoveLauren. Then, early this year I started contemplating a new name for my blog and now business (even though I didn't know it then). I have continued to use the phrase and have documented my own refining through #refinedheart. I started thinking through a new name for the blog and my website and the Lord just put on my heart "Refined Heart Living"-- living in such a way that is a reflection of that refining.

Now before I lose you completely, while my writing is often spiritual and my original intent in "Refined Heart" was spiritual, I do feel that Refined Heart Living is also secular. To be refined means to remove impurities or unwanted elements from a substance or process- this is often seen in gold, oil, or can even be in our own hearts by God's word, or simply by the encouragement of friends, feedback from a boss, or even from challenging experiences we go through. We often hear the phrase "refine by fire" because that is how impurities are removed from Gold. So when someone says, "you have a heart of gold" I can't help but think of the refining process that someone's heart has been through. 

“But He knows the way that I take [and He pays attention to it]. When He has tried me, I will come forth as [refined] gold [pure and luminous].” -JOB‬ ‭23:10‬ ‭AMP‬‬ The Lord knows the way we take, He sees every step, He pays attention and loves is so much. There are things in our lives- circumstances, challenges, relationships that "try" us, and even still God uses it all for good. We will come forth as refined gold!

From a business standpoint refine means to develop or improve so as to be precise or subtle "building up a more refined profile of the customer's needs." Refined can also mean to improve something by making small changes in particular to make an idea, theory, perfect, polish up, hone, fine tune. It also means to be elegant and cultured in appearance, manner, taste.  Some synonyms include cultivated, cultured, polished, styled, elegant, sophisticated, well mannered, gracious, polite, discerning, fine.

To me, Refined Heart Living means to live in such a way to continually refine and be refined in heart to live better and more boldly for the Lord, our families, friends, customers- those we live with, work with and those we get to love and serve on a daily basis.

Why I Decided to Launch My Website & Blog This Week

You might be wondering why all of a sudden I decided that I'm going to launch the Refined Heart Living website & blog this week on FRIDAY? I attended the Global Leadership Summit last week which left me feeling so fired up & encouraged. The summit encouraged us to take time to reflect on our notes and create an action plan, to lead a life worthy of our calling for we have been called by God (Ephesians 4:1). As I was reflecting, one of the things I felt so convicted on was that I need to launch my website & blog this week and felt in my heart that maybe even this Friday!

One session of my notes from Juliet Funt was on creating strategic pauses in our days "white space" to allow room for innovation, strategy, reflection, creativity- the oxygen that helps fan that spark into a flame (Refined Heart!) She mentioned 4 thieves of productivity, all things innate in our character but when taken too far can steal from productivity. One of the thieves that resonated with me was excellence. When excellence is taken to far it can lead to perfection. In order to prevent, create white space, and simplify we must ask the question of "when is 'good enough' good enough?" This convicted and prompted me to move forward with the launch (with little planning) 

I've been working on my website & blog for a few months, the vision keeps unfolding but I know it will be continually evolving as the Lord continues to reveal things and refine my heart in the process. Perhaps what convicted me the most though was the question, "Who am I missing out on blessing by not pressing go and waiting till it's perfect and EXACTLY how I want vs just saying "good enough" and letting the Lord move!" So I'm like okay let's do this, Lord. I'm hoping to continue to make a few changes this week, build some momentum on social media including sharing my heart & vision and then on Friday PRESS GO, and accept that it's "good enough." To fully Let Go and LET GOD, trusting Him to do the work. Practicing grace not perfection here! 

 

Refined Heart Blog Vision

I want Refined Heart Living to be a place where you can sit down and have a cup of coffee. To read the blog and be encouraged either in spirit, in heart or in truth, in life, business or in faith. I want to share my heart, my stories and create a safe space of community to encourage women, refining hearts to live well for not just the kingdom of God but for those we get to serve and interact with on a daily basis. 

Beautiful engagement photo by This Lovely Light. A big thanks to my now sweet husband (sitting right by my side) who has been my biggest supporter, encourager, believer, advisory board, prayer partner, steady and calm in my crazy & best friend.

Website & Blog Launch Announcment

Exciting News & Announcement! Official LAUNCH date for the all new Refined Heart Living website & blog will be THIS FRIDAY, August 18th! 

Refined Heart has been a vision of mine since I was living in Portland, Oregon 3 years ago. It has continued to grow and evolve, in ways I never expected to Refined Heart Living earlier this year. I'm so excited and expectant to see what God will do. I'll be sharing more of my heart and vision this week leading up to the launch! Thanks for being here and for your support and joining me on this journey! God writes the best stories!

Global Leadership Summit- Key Takeaways

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for man, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Colossians‬ ‭3:23-24‬ ‭

I had the opportunity to attend the Global Leadership Summit last week on Thurs & Fri hosted at Lima Community Church. It was truly an incredible experience and so very timely on the Lord's part for me. There was so much truth, encouragement, practical skills & wisdom, leaving me with so much conviction. And I might have filled every page in this GLS notebook!  I'm fired up and left with so much I want to take and move forward with. It was a perfect reminder of who I am and WHOSE I am- not defined by our past but can walk forward confidently with hearts Refined in the image of God to step forward boldly & courageously into all that he's called us to. So it's Monday and how does all of this help me to move forward differently? 

A Few Takeaways:
Be expectant. Lead with humility. Respect everyone always. Plant leadership seeds & gratitude for those who planted them in you. Find joy & give gratitude. Show up. Be direct & truthful in communication. Have vulnerability, transparency and trust. We are closer to God when we are creative. We can be hopeful. Be a student and not a critic, have open mind & open eyes. Give your work meaning.

The last session from the Summit was on fear, as leaders we should not be afraid and let fear hold us back from actually DOING what we've learned. So this week name your fears, switch from defense to offense and surround yourself with a community that helps fill you with courage (from Gary Haugen) because it's love that drives our dreams and HIS PERFECT LOVE drives out fear. We work for the Lord and not man so we should be filled with joy and take heart & courage just as Jesus commanded. What are the fears that hold you back? What can you step into this week boldly to reach for your dreams?

Remember you are far better than you think you are, have more than you think you have, and can do more than you think you can. Be brave, embrace & fulfill what God has for you as a leader From Sam Adeyemi

Our Eyes Are On You

“We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you. (2 Chronicles 20:12) 

"Living a life of faith often requires us to leave things alone. If we have completely entrusted something to God, we must keep our hands off it. He can guard it better than we can, and He does not need our help. Be still before the Lord if we have completely entrusted something to God, we must keep our hands off it. He can guard it better than we can, and He does not need our help. “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways” (Ps. 37:7)... God knows our circumstances better than we do. And He will work at the perfect moment, if we will completely trust Him to work in His own way and in His own time. Often there is nothing as godly as inactivity on our part, or nothing as harmful as restless working, for God has promised to work His sovereign will. It is such a comfort to drop the entanglements and perplexities of life into God’s hands and leave them there.” -Excerpt From: Streams in the Desert

I'm feeling so fired up after the Global Leadership Summit today! There was so much truth, encouragement, and wise counsel. And we still have one whole day to go!  I have so many ideas, renewed passions, clearer visions and I can't wait to see what God does with it all. But this devotion is a perfect reminder that we can completely entrust all things unto God. Being still before the Lord, praying and waiting patiently and expectantly for Him to move within His will and ways. Even if we aren't sure exactly what's next, if our eyes are on Him, He will lead the way!

Be On Guard & Stand Firm

Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. Do everything in love. -1 Corinthians 16:13-14

This was the perfect truth and encouragement this morning to fuel me through a Monday and fill my heart after a little challenging week last week. I was reminded yesterday at church that any condemnation we might feel is of the enemy- it tends to be concerning many things and leaves feelings of being "not enough." But conviction, now that's of the spirit- it tends to be pointed and specific, know that you are a child of God, loved, and more than enough because Jesus is enough. So be on guard and stand firm, when you feel condemnation know that it's not truth, but watch for the convictions in your heart and walk in step with the spirit. The spirit fills us to be strong & courageous and do all things in love. Be encouraged this week with these truths my friends! 

Seek the Lord

“Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him” -Psalm‬ ‭37:3-7‬ ‭

This light pouring in this morning was amazing but His light is everything and so is this truth. Be still & wait on Him. Truly, read Psalm 37, seek the Lord and be blessed!

Be Strong & Courageous

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” -Joshua‬ ‭1:9‬ ‭

All the yes to this verse!! And how adorable is this little shop and window display?! I had the chance to visit several local boutique shops over the weekend and my heart was just swooning! I am passionate about small businesses and to see lovely home decor, antiques, locally made products and scripture on the walls of some of these shops just made my heart so happy! Not to mention I feel like every bit of this little picture points to the heart of Refined Heart Living.

In the first 9 verses of Josuha 1 the Lord tells Joshua, not once, not twice, but THREE times to be strong & courageous..... And guess what? That message is true for us too!! When we are in the threshold of change, just like Joshua was, the enemy tries to bring fear but 2 Timothy 1:7 says we do not have a spirit of fear but one of discipline, sound mind, power & love. Just the way God prepared Joshua to lead and take the promise land, He prepares us. Service is the key to destiny. Often times the call of God is inconvenient and will make you uncomfortable, you might feel interrupted but the presence of God is with you. Sometimes we just need to step out in FAITH, mark it, to "BE STRONG & COURAGEOUS." "Being faithful doesn't mean you are fearless, it just means that your FAITH is greater than your fear"-@ChristineCain. God is who He says He is and will do what He says He will do- we have to trust that He is real and He will fulfill His promises as he says. 

Can we all be strong & courageous and trust that God's ways are better and be bold enough to step into that letting our faith be bigger than our fear?!