Joy and Trials Go Hand in Hand???

I can't believe that I haven't posted since Sunday. It just doesn't seem like it's been that long. This week has been a little crazy with meetings and travel for work. We're experiencing some change at work which will eventually be a good thing. Right now it seems like a huge test since we've suddenly grown from a team of five to a team of sixteen. And unfortunately, quite a few of our new teammembers have not been coached in the same manner that we have, so I'm noticing quite a bit of what could be considered negative behavior. That's not their fault and they are not bad people by any means. But when you've had as much coaching as we have on personality types and preferences, things tend to stick out at you a little bit. They say that teams go thru four stages: forming, storming, norming, and performing. Our smaller team has been together for about three years and I truly feel like we've been through each of those stages and have successfully achieved "performing" status. So now that we have a new group of folks, it feels like we're back at square one all over again. I really hope they catch on quickly! Maybe our manager can work with them the same way she did with us and help the two groups gel more quickly. Pray for patience on everyone's part (I know they say not to pray for that, but I think it's in order here) and that we will learn how to work with each other and find the best process that works for the larger group.

On a more positive note, I attended a class today in Charlotte which our friend Justin Luckett also happened to be in. It was called Quality Philosophy. Interesting! A couple of us were wondering what this was all about before the class started. It was exactly that - the philosophy about how to achieve, manage, and maintain quality. I'm really excited about the content and how it can be applied to work and even to everyday life. I know. . . sounds weird. Just go with me! :)

Life Group was awesome again tonight. I had the opportunity to meet Cherie and Bill Smith. I've seen them at church but haven't met them before tonight. What great folks! It's always nice to meet someone else - maybe eventually I'll get the chance to meet everyone. We had a great conversation on how God is speaking to us thru the book of James. I'm really loving this group more and more. We spent a good amount of time talking about the first few verses in James 1. I guess the above situation with work would be my "trial" at this point. And with most trials there is a fear - in this case probably the fear of the unknown and uncertainty, the fear of failure of the whole group. We (our team) don't have a reason to fail - they put two very successful groups together. But this union changes a lot of major processes. I realize that this fear is unfounded and that Satan is trying his best to enter this situation and my mind. But James tells us to consider it pure joy when we face things like this because we know that our faith will be tested and that it will persevere. So I'm approaching this with joy and a positive spirit. I'm approaching this the knowledge that my faith will persevere and bring me through this time. It has before - God has before - and it will happen again.