Character Corner

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Super Tuesday thoughts

Tomorrow is Super Tuesday. If it’s your state’s turn, go out and vote!

Maybe you hate all the candidates or maybe you know exactly who to vote for. 

Just keep in mind that not voting is casting a vote. 

You’re voting to not participate in a right that’s not available in all countries around the world.

It’s lazy, really, to not vote.  Take 15 minutes and head down to the polls. 

This is an important election. Our country needs a good leader who will help change the political landscape for the better. 

But if we all stay home, nothing will change. 

Your vote matters. 

Don’t believe the lie that says it doesn’t matter! This is America. You have a voice! 

Our freedom comes at a high price and our privileges as citizens are the envy of the world. 

I’ve written more about politics in the last several weeks than I ever have…

Nothing about this topic makes me comfortable, but it’s important. 

It’s time to wake up and pay attention to what’s happening around us. 

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Punch worry in the face 

Worry is stupid. 

Seriously, there’s no greater waste of time than to worry. It’s taken me 25 years to grasp this simple truth…

Today I faced a situation that could’ve taken the wind out of my sails, but I made a decision:

I chose to believe the Bible instead of all the negative junk. 

This one choice  made all the difference. 

I’m still not sure how everything will play out, but I trust God. 

He’s my provider. 

He knows all my needs. 

There are times my control freak, what’s-going -to-happen self fights for my attention. 

But I continue taking my mind back to God’s Word. The more I stay in the Word, the less the little things throw me off. 

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A life with no strings

unityPeople know when you’re a phony.

I know that I can tell when someone’s treating me more like a project or a prospect. It’s the fastest way to shut me down.

And it’s also an area where I have to be careful…

One time, my friend Holly Beth called me out on my general distrust:

Not everyone is out to get you, Audra.

Her comment helped me see that I was approaching situations all wrong. I had allowed things from my past to warp my perception of others.

The change wasn’t overnight, but it got me going down the right path. In fact, my problem with perception was something I discussed with my counselor last year. Her suggestions helped me even more to change my view.

I used to only see the strings attached to what others were saying or asking of me. My counselor wanted me to identify every string that I saw in a conversation.

The assignment was to give a name to each string. Then I had to examine it and see if there was any truth to it.

I saw a lot of strings that week and many of them were only my perceptions. The other person’s motives were pure! It was me with the problem.

 No matter the filters you have to set up to protect against faulty judgments, sincerity is easy to pinpoint. Finding out you’re nothing but a project or prospect is the quickest way to lose what little influence you may have in someone’s life.

In a world of posers, you don’t get many do overs.

This is why it’s important to be yourself. Period. When you’re okay with you are, you won’t get caught playing pretend.

 

 

 

 

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Why giving matters

I have a friend who always has granola bars in her backpack. 

She’s generous, too. If you need a snack, just find her! 

I’m actually going to buy her a box of granola bars this weekend because she’s helped me–and many others–out this week. 

My friend’s genorisity got me thinking…

Shouldn’t all Christians be known for their generosity?

It’s in the Bible. You see passages about:

  • Hospitality
  • Giving
  • Prayer
  • Miracles
  • Healing

And all of it was done for the purposes of evangelism to the lost and edification for the body of Christ. 

Nothing was ever done for selfish ambition. 

Christians are not supposed to be stingy–in any area!

In my class on the gifts of the spirit, we’ve talked quite a bit about how none of God’s gifts are for us. 

This makes sense to me because in light of the bigger picture, it’s kind of comical to think anything is ours to begin with. 

It all belongs to Him!

Plus, Jesus paid the ultimate price for our sins. He is our Redeemer and our pardon was purchased with His blood. 

How can we not give freely when He is our example?

Jesus has given us everything. 

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Doing what’s necessary

I’m working on a big project at work. 

It’s one of those projects where many other projects will stem from completing this one task.

No pressure, right?

The spreadsheet is long and I have to toggle back and forth between two programs to gather information. 

I keep telling myself, as my eyes cross from staring at the computer screen, that getting this task done right the first time will make my job so much easier in the long run. 

And it’s true. 

Sometimes the only way to get things done is to roll up your sleeves and dig in your heels. 

Trust me. I tried to think of a way to avoid this project…

Is there a shortcut?

Jesus, please show me a shortcut!

There is simply no other way to move forward without this project being completed.

What I’m learning, though, is that going in with a good attitude is helping me move forward quickly. 

If you’re facing a similar situation, don’t sit around pouting! Hating the project and your job will not help you at all. 

We all have parts of our jobs that are not fun. 

But since when does everything have to be about us having fun?

Set goals.

Get to work. 

Do your best. 

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Gifted to Serve

Don’t forget who you are–ever!

The comparison trap is a snare that many of us step in. 

It’s so easy to look around at others and think, “There’s just no way for me…”

First off, that’s stinkin’ thinkin’ from the get go. 

Secondly, no one’s asked you or even expects you to be anyone but yourself. 

As Christians, we understand that there’s unity in diversity. 

Think about the list of ministry gifts and manifestation gifts. 

They’re all different! And everyone has a job to do within the body of Christ. 

The goal is the same: share the gospel and make disciples. But the means required to do so demands a diversity of methods. 

I know this topic is a bit elementary in nature. It’s just that I found myself forgetting these fundamental truths today. 

The biggest reason I run far away from the comparison trap is that there’s no room for encouraging others when you’re busy comparing yourself. 

Plus, you waste time and wreck relationships. 

Do you know what I did during my prayer time today?

I thanked God for who He made me to be.

 I thanked Him for opening doors of opportunity to minister to others by using the gifts He’s given me. 

And, no, it isn’t prideful arrogance to pray in this manner. If the goal was to puff yourself up it would be different. 

The goal is to thank Him for using you in His kingdom. 

The goal is to recognize that God made you to be a vessel that serves others.

Understanding your identity in Christ takes away the need to compare yourself to anyone else. 

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Be a thought catcher

I surround myself with paper:

  • I carry a planner because using my phone’s calendar has never stuck with me.
  • My desk is covered in sticky notes and scrap pages and memo pads with scribbled out notes to myself.
  • I even use Evernote, which is a digital notebook.

If I don’t grab catch a thought immediately, it’s a goner.

Do you know how many times I’ve written a great blog post in my head and planned on writing it down once I got home?

Whether you’re the most organized thought catcher that ever lived or you have 10 notebooks and scrap paper falls around your feet when you walk, just write things down!

Habakkuk 2:2 says, “Write the vision and make it plain on tablets…”

The Lord was giving instructions and the first words out of his mouth were, “Write this down!”

The point of writing things down is to use that information to teach and encourage others.

None of us lack ideas.

If you’ve ever sat in a meeting, you know that everyone has great ideas–and they normally all come about the time the meeting is supposed to be over.

We just don’t catch the inspiration when the Holy Spirit gives it to us.

Grab your thoughts!

Write them down!

And then go do something with them.

 

 

 

 

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Say no to yourself

You don’t have to eat sweets everyday, Audra!

I like food. All food. 

Sweet. 

Sour. 

Savory. 

Salty. 

If it’s food, I like it.

Unless it’s liver…I draw the line at liver. 

Self- control with food is hard. Just take a stroll down the weight loss section of your local bookstore. 

Hundreds of books!!!

Yet most people fail their diets. 

The problem is not so much the food you eat, though, pizza and cheeseburgers everyday isn’t helping you. 

The problem is self-control. Gluttony is a real vice.

Moderation is key, but where’s the fun in that?

Not everything has to be fun. 

I want ice cream and chocolate right now. There will be no delicious goodness tonight. 

Am I happy about this deprivation? 

Absolutely not!

Saying no to yourself is not always fun, but it’s the small choices that snowball into big changes. 

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Practicing Contentment

Part of settling into a new job is organizing your work space. 

When I first started working for Storage Depot, I spent 2 days organizing my office. The work space would simply not do!

Of course, you would never throw things away without asking a supervisor. My boss was very supportive of my reorganization, which was encouraging. 

I don’t have much organized in my new office because I just moved in today. My antsy, get-things-fixed-now nature wants things to speed up.

I’m trying something new though….

It’s called waiting.

Okay, okay waiting is not a new concept, but I’m not one to wait around for long. 

I’ve been so busy with various projects that getting my office situated is the last thing on my mind. Plus, my training involves 5 people, which means I have to work around their schedules.

All of these factors are forcing me to see what’s really important: Getting the work done. 

Moving from a temporary work space to a messy work space has not bothered me. Too much is happening to care!

How does this crazy glimpse into my mind help you?

This whole experience has me thinking that impatience causes us to miss out on good things.

When this room is cleaned…

When this job is finished…

When I get back from vacation…

…then I will be satisfied.  

The only problem with completing one “when” is that the next “when” is right around the corner.

How about being content now? 

Your current situation won’t stay unresolved for long.

Move on! Get happy! 

Maybe there would be greater job satisfaction if more people thought this way. I have no proof to support my theory, but it makes sense to me.

 

 

 

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5 good reasons

Today, I just want to give thanks. Here are 5 things I am thankful for:

1. The opportunity to go to Rhema. 

Being able to sit in a classroom and learn more about the things of God is an honor. 

2. My new job. 

Working for Wisdom Ministries is such a blessing. I am getting a lot of great experience in how administration within a ministry operated AND the opportunity to learn more as an editor. 

3. My home. 

I live with the sweetest couple who have done nothing but encourage me. It’s nice to come home here. 

4. The Holy Spirit.

 A year ago, I received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. My relationship with God is so much richer now. I’m not sure what many of you guys believe about the subject, but I know that my life has changed for the better and that God has made this gift available to all Christians who ask for it. 

5. This blog. 

I can’t believe that this blog is finally more than an idea in my head! The chance to grow as a writer and to document all that I’m learning as a 25 year old is not something I take lightly. 

And now here’s where you get to tell me what you’re thankful for. I want to celebrate all the blessings in your life along with you.