The Spiritual RQA

My job is to review the 6 branches I'm directly responsible for and see that they are operationally sound. I'm called an Operations Specialist. Really, I go in and point out people's mistakes, tell them how to fix them, teach them how to avoid the mistakes next time, and tell them how to do it correctly the first time all the time. I give resources, helpful tools, and policy standards each branch so they can function within the rules and regulations that govern my industry. Basically, the people who want to do a good job appreciate me for the help I provide, and the ones who don't seem to care have a hard time with me pointing out all their mistakes. Part of my job is to prepare these branches for the "testing" process or the "Retail Quality Assurance Review". These reviews happen roughly every 12 to 18 months. The RQA group comes in and assigns a grade to the branches operations to judge their operational soundness. The branch is found "Acceptable", one we need to "Watch", or "Unacceptable". This is where the stress comes from for me.

I have 6 branches, all are due for their RQA audit...well now it's 5 of 6 because one just had its review and passed with the "Acceptable" score. Yea! Of the other 5 remaining branches I have 3 that I am really struggling with, and I've been struggling with for months. I tell them how to do things correctly, and they don't seem to be able to put that into practice. I explain to the managers the need for their buy-in into my recommendations, so they can be successful in their upcoming audits. In most cases; however, it doesn't seem to be happening. I'm very tired. I'm very discouraged. I'm very worried about how well they will do. I think a big issue is the accountability portion of this process. The score for the branches is put on me, not the manager of the branch or the team that is at the branch daily. It mainly reflects on me, and I'm only there, at best, once a week. With 6 branches spread over 200 miles, it's a little difficult to be at any given branch on a consistent basis.

I'm not here to complain about my job, although it may seem like that. I like the challenge. I actually wanted to relate this dynamic to God and us. God tells us in the Bible how to live our lives correctly (please don't think I'm saying we can earn salvation if we live a good life) so that on the day of judgement we can be found pure and holy. He gives us resources, instructions, council, guidance, and the answers we need to live as believers. He longing for us to be His. He gave His Son for our sin. All we need to do is believe. And yet we have all these resources and one easy step to follow (faith), and we don't listen or follow the simple step to the perfection of eternity. We think all our own stuff is so much more important than glorifying God with our lives. We think that our own goals and our own desires will make us happy and successful in life. But in reality, if we do not follow God's words and instructions, we will fail. Romans 10:9-10 says, "because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved." But James 2:18-20 says, "But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?" You have to believe to be saved. But true belief or faith is evidenced by actions. There better be some evidence to your claim of salvation in your life. You better be doing what God tells you to do in His Word, the Bible.

NOTE: I assume only a few people read this blog, and that those are my Christian friends. If you are not a Christian, and you think that I'm comparing myself to God, understand that I am actually the sinner realizing I have the Word of God to point me to a proper pleasing life, but I fail to follow those instructions and it frustrates God that I do not listen to Him. I am only saved because of grace. If there was an RQA Review on my life, I would not be saved. I would be found "Unacceptable". Praise God that He shows grace on me. Praise God that He saves


Tweet

God Answers Prayers

Without going into a lot of detail that I don't really want public, God answered a prayer today. There is a lot of human stress in my life right now, to the point where I'm wondering what day the heart attack is going to come, and I've been weak in my prayer time about it. I finally cried out to God yesterday about one part of it and today I found out He answered that prayer. Now, I do believe God hears and answers every prayer, but sometimes it's not the answer we want so it doesn't feel like God is listening or answering. Faith is often a difficult thing.

The amount of stress I feel lifted today is huge. I wish I could feel like this more often. I wish my faith was stronger. And as I type that I get scared that God is going to continue more trials and more stressful things to see test me in that. Although He does not tempted us to sin, He does test us. To be clear on this I will quote James 1:12-13, which says, "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and He Himself tempts no one."

God is Good. Praise God for His Steadfast Love.

Crazy Love - Chapter 1, Stop Praying

Jordan, Stuart, and I had our first chapter book review of "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan yesterday morning. I'm really starting to find that time so valuable. It's encouraging, challenging, practical, and educational. The first chapter is titled "Stop Praying." The highlights of our discussion focused on some of the great ideas and truths Francis wrote about.

First, the title of the chapter almost seems wrong because of what it sounds like he's saying. But it was really about stopping and reflecting on what you are praying. Are you praying out your wish list to God? It's time to reflect on God. He created everything from the universe to the bone structure of insects and more. God is great and powerful and amazing. In today's society "we are slow to listen, quick to speak, and quick to become angry." This is the opposite of what James 1:19 tells us.

Second, he talked about the fact that we can not make God who and how we want Him to be. He listed some of God's characteristics and that God described Himself as "I Am who I Am." God is holy. God is eternal. God is all-knowing. God is all-powerful. God is fair and just.

I did learn that I'm going to need to highlight as I read, and even take some notes while we talk to do a better review. This week, I'm responsible for being the most prepared with the chapter, in case these to great guys aren't. I don't think I'll anything to worry about but I want to do a good job of being prepared. Overall, chapter one helped me think about the way I pray, and I'm hoping to change my pray habits and style. First, I just need to pray more. Second, I need to pray better.

God is God. I am not. I am hopeless and helpless without Him. I can only hope in Him.