Expert: Mrs. Priscilla Lyons - 12/20/2005

Question
i KNOW YOU DONT KNOW ME PERSONALLY BUT HERE GOES..............................................

1 COR 9:25
"AND EVERYONE WHO COMPETES FOR THE PRIZE IS TEMPERATE IN ALL THINGS....."

1 pETER 3:3,4
"...BUT LET IT BE THE HIDDEN PERSON OF THE HEART, WITH THE INCORRUPTIBLE ORNAMENT OF A GENTLE AND QUIET SPIRIT WHICH IS VERY PRECIOUS IN THE SIGHT OF GOD."

QUESTION:
I CAN SEE THAT AS WOMEN WE ARE TO BE TEMPERATE IN ALL THINGS, GENTLE AND QUIET.

mY PERSONALITY HAS BEEN DEFINED AS "DEMONSTRATIVE" BEFORE.  
i AM MARKED BY THE OPENESS TO EXPRESS MY EMOTIONS.  nOT EMOTIONS LIKE CRYING, ANGER, RAGE, ETC.....BUT THE SPECIFIC EMOTIONS OF LOVE AND LAUGHTER.
I AM AND CAN BE QUITE EXPRESSIVE TO THE BODY OF CHRIST AND TO THE LOST MY FEELINGS OF LOVE FOR THEM (ALWAYS IN AN APPROPRIATE WAY) AND CAN LAUGH SO LOUD SOMETIMES.

IT KINDA BOTHERS ME THAT MY PERSONALITY CAN BE SO DEMONSTRATIVE.

AM I ALSO TO BE TEMPERATE OR MODERATE OR SELF CONTROLLED WITH THE EMOTION OF LOVE THAT I HAVE FOR OTHERS?  AND WITH MY LOUD LAUGHTER?

I'M 44 NOW....IS MY GOD gIVEN PERSONALITY SOMETHING THAT CAN BE CHANGED- I DONT THINK SO...
SO WHAT TO DO ABOUT THIS LOVE AND LAUGHTER THAT i SENSE NEEDS TO BE TEMPERATE.  OR AM I JUST IMAGINING THINGS.

HOW AM I TO BALANCE OUT DEMONSTRATIVE WITH GENTLE, QUIET AND TEMPERATE?

DO YOUR BEST SISTER.......
THANKS FOR YOUR HELP
IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD,
CANN

Answer
Dear Cann,
   Thanks for writing again.  Obviously God made us all unique.  Since our purpose is to reflect His glory, I believe our differences can reflect Him more brilliantly than sameness, like a many faceted diamond reflects light more brilliantly than one with less facets.
   Knowing your God-given personality helps you rely on the Holy Spirit's guidance to protect you from being too demonstrative at the wrong time according to God's plan.  Quiet people may need to rely more on the Holy Spirit to help them speak up or be more involved when God wants them to.  
   Ask God to keep you sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading.  Submission to His leading will produce a temperate, gentle and quiet spirit, even when/if the outward part of you is loud and demonstrative.
   I thank the Lord that there are Christians like you willing to share the joy of the Lord.  The Holy Spirit reminds me to lighten up when I'm too negative at times.  Having the love of God come out of you so freely is a wonderful gift.  I believe your desire to obey I Cor. 9:25 and I Peter 3:3.4 will be fulfilled as you continue to trust God's leading while appreciating the exuberance of your God given personality.
   Love,
   Priscilla