God’s Take on the “Blitz” | Facing Your Blitz Weekly Video Devotion

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Stock market woes…waiting for a cancer biopsy to come back…fired by your company…life’s a blast isn’t it?  Now’s a good time to look at the bigger picture in life.  Let’s see what God says and does about blitzes.

Game Plan:

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” ~Jesus – John 16:33 (ESV)

“And not only this, but we also rejoice in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”   Romans 5:3-5  (NASB)

Time Out:

Last week the Dow dropped 500 points.  My family faced a small surgery for early melanoma this month.  Marriages of several acquaintances have separated recently.  What’s your list of tribulation, trouble, and trials?  We’ve all got them.  But we don’t all have God’s perspective on them.  Jesus faced worse than us and He told us to seek Him, anchor in Him, and persevere in getting closer to Him.  Is your goal in life to have good circumstances… or great joy in God?  Are you putting trust in your situation… or your Savior?

Go Deep:

Start a conversation with God today. Ask Him to help you better grasp the magnitude of what Jesus did for you. His love is measured by the size of the blitz He took for us on the cross. He turned history’s worst injustice into our greatest victory. Thank God for your troubles and trials. Ask Him how you can know Him better and become more like Him. Use your trials as a bridge to encouraging other people.

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Download FACING YOUR BLITZ Discussion Guide

 

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“Responsibility…Who, Me?” | Facing Your Blitz Weekly Video Devotion

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We’ve all been in situations where we hope no one notices how we dropped the ball or failed other people. Here’s a story about losing a game and making things worse in the post-game interviews. Responsibility is much easier to swallow when we take it upfront, rather than when it’s pinned on us later by others

Game Plan:

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” James 5:16 (ESV)

“Then the sailors said to each other, ‘Come, let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity.’ They cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah. So they asked him, ‘Tell us, who is responsible for making all this trouble for us?’ … ‘Pick me up and throw me into the sea,’ he replied, ‘and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you.’”   Jonah 1:7-12  (NIV)

Time Out:

Jonah, the dude who jumped on a ship to escape God’s assignment and ended up in a fish, finally figured out he could not avoid responsibility. Has it been good or bad for your character to slip into the shadows or distract people from noticing your mistakes and failings? Has it been good or bad when you hid from responsibility? Taking responsibility and blame up front works out way better than hiding or waiting. Getting accused by others, losing trust, and damaging relationships isn’t worth the temporary relief that comes from deflecting blame.

Go Deep:

Are you willing to improve? Grab the responsibility and apologize immediately in the most important places – with your spouse, with your kids, with your teammates. Say What? “Hey, this is on me. This was my responsibility and I fell short. I apologize. Please forgive me.”

Stay Connected:

To get this video and devotional guide delivered to your inbox each Monday, SUBSCRIBE TODAY.

To get your copy of Facing the Blitz CLICK HERE

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Download FACING YOUR BLITZ Discussion Guide

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The Log in Your Eye | Facing Your Blitz Weekly Video Devotion

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A caution…I’m using an intense and extreme example. There is never a cause or justification for any person to be unfaithful to their spouse. But, the principle of examining yourself first has great power to initiate healing.

Game Plan:

“Judge not, that you be not judged.  For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?  Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:1-4 ESV)

Time Out:

How often does blaming, complaining or criticizing someone else improve our relationship with them…especially when we ignore our faults in the relationship?

When someone you care about let’s you down, it’s easy to assume the worst about them and assume the best about yourself. We tend to ignore faults and responsibility in ourselves, when there is someone else we can point at. How has that approach of blaming, complaining or critiquing worked out for you? Would you agree that this approach actually prevents us from improving ourselves and the relationship?

Go Deep:

Want a better life? Try the radical and powerful path of humility Jesus taught – examine yourself first and apologize first…regardless of the other person’s failing. Since people respond best and relationships heal fastest when we work on our self first…let’s drop our pride and become wise. Big or little, let’s take that log out of our own eye before we dump the blame on the people we care about.

Stay Connected:

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Download FACING YOUR BLITZ Discussion Guide

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The Power of Vision | Facing Your Blitz Weekly Video Devotion

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Do you feel shackled by some problem, disadvantage or disability?  Is it your child or spouse who feels the chains of limitation?  A friend or teammate?  Check out this story about a powerful form of encouragement…vision.

Game Plan:

“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing… And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.” (I Corinthians 5:11, 14, ESV)

Time Out:

A dyslexic boy’s inability to read well affects his schoolwork and the opinions of classmates. But his mom sees beyond the surface problems to her son’s intelligence, his potential, and his future. She converts her vision into optimism, which becomes encouragement to her son. It creates in Him determination, overcoming and thriving.

More than 300 years earlier, Jonathan Swift also faced serious limitations, a sickly Irish boy raised by a single mom. But, in part, through his mother’s vision and encouragement, he went on to author Gulliver’s Travels. He also penned this classic secret to a life of epic encouragement:

“Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others.”

When people are weak, they lose confidence. When they are fainthearted, they often become idle. When idle, they feel even weaker.

The solution is hope, which comes through encouragement. Encouragement comes from vision—seeing the big picture, knowing someone believes in you. The best way to show belief in someone is to help him or her see God accurately. Then you can help them see themselves accurately—their value, their potential, and their future.

Go Deep:

Make today, this week, and this year about encouragement—about vision!

Read the ultimate story…God’s story.  Revel in His extravagant, overcoming and unending love. Take heart from the victorious and redemptive conclusion to His story.  Become the vision-caster for those you love, and those in need of encouragement.  Help them see their future, not just their challenge.

Speak of God’s love for your son, daughter, spouse, or grandchild.  Describe to people their gifts and talents, the value of their life and the unique impact they can have on others.  Paint the picture of trials turning into triumphs.  Pass on the power of vision.

Stay Connected:

To get this video and devotional guide delivered to your inbox each Monday, SUBSCRIBE TODAY.

To get your copy of Facing the Blitz CLICK HERE

And, Like us on FACEBOOK and follow Jeff on Twitter

Download FACING YOUR BLITZ Discussion Guide

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