RULE 29: Know Your Role

What is your role? I know you are there to do a job, carry out a function, perform certain tasks, follow set procedures, and all that. But what is your role? This is a bit like setting a game plan. A game plan outlines what sort of working person you are going to be. A role is what sort of facilitator you will be. Will you be an ideas person? A moderator? A communicator? A diplomat? A task master? A motivator? Basically, your role is how you fit into the team—and yes, we are all team players; we have to be in this day and age. 

Dr. Meredith Belbin has spent over 20 years researching the nature of team work to improve people’s strengths. He has identified nine distinct team roles:

• Plant—They are original thinkers; they generate new ideas; they offer solutions to problems; they think in radically different ways, laterally, imaginatively. 

• Resource Investigator—They are creative; they like to take ideas and run with them; they are extroverted and popular. 

• Coordinator—They are highly disciplined and controlled; they can focus on objectives; they unify a team.

 • Shaper—They are very achievement orientated; they like to be challenged and to get results. 

• Monitor Evaluator—They analyze and balance and weigh; they are calm and detached; they are objective thinkers. 

• Team Worker—They are supportive and cooperative; they make good diplomats as they only want what is best for the team.

• Implementer—They have good organizational skills; they display common sense; they like to get the job done. 

• Completer—They check details; they tidy up after them; they are painstakingly conscientious. 

• Specialist—They are dedicated to acquiring a specialized skill; they are extremely professional; they have drive and dedication. 

So which are you? What role do you play in the team? Are you happy with your role? Can you change it?

BASICALLY, YOUR ROLE IS HOW YOU FIT INTO THE TEAM—AND YES, WE ARE ALL TEAM PLAYERS; WE HAVE TO BE IN THIS DAY AND AGE

Only Trust

It's normal to experience bouts of worry, anxiety and self-pity when we lack resources essential to our well being - food, shelter, health, finances, friendships. First Kings 17:8 - 16 reminds us that God's help can come through unexpected sources. 

Concerns for our needs to be met can send us searching in many directions. A clear vision of God as the Provider who has promised to supply our needs can be liberating. Before we seek solutions, may we be careful to seek Him first. Doing so can save us time, energy & frustrations.

Father, sharpen my vision of You as the Provider for all my needs.   

Bright Spots In Bleak Places

Sometimes in bleak places, God sends a sunflower - an encouraging word or note from a friend; a comforting verse or Bible passage; a beautiful sunrise - that helps us to move forward with a lighter step, with hope. Even as we await the day we experience God's deliverance out of difficulty, may we join the Psalmist in proclaiming - You are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God.  

Loving God, thank You for being compassionate and gracious. Help me to remember how You've been faithful and answered my prayers in the past - and will again in the future. 

Faithful Until The Harvest

Don't worry about numbers or other visible measures of success. Our job is to be faithful to what He wants us to do and then leave the harvest to Him. God determines the outcomes.

God, I'm grateful that You're the one in charge of the results. You're the one at work. Help me to do what You ask no matter what.   

How Did I Get Here?

Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?

Have you found yourself in a place you never expected? You're too young to have this disease, and there's no cure. Your last review was excellent; why is your position being eliminated? You were enjoying the best years of your marriage. Now you're starting over, as a single parent with a part-time job.

How did I get here? Job may have wondered as he sat among the ashes. He'd lost his children, his wealth and his health, in no time flat. He couldn't have guessed how he got here; he just knew he had to remember. 

Job remembered his Creator and how good He'd been. Job remembered he could count on this good God to be faithful.

Father, You're not surprised by what surprises me. You were good before, and You remain good now.     

God Our Rescuer

Wow...

Whenever life or people threaten to pull us under, as believers in Jesus, we know we have a Rescuer. For this is what the Sovereign Lord says - I will rescue my flock. I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered. That's a saving promise worth holding tightly.