Love Transcends Boos | Facing Your Blitz Weekly Video Devotion

,

So what if I got booed once (well, maybe twice) — listen to how my son joked about it and think about how we’ll be remembered.

Game Plan: 

“He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” Luke 22:19, NLT

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins” I Peter 4:8, NIV

Time Out:

What will your kids remember about you? Funny and embarrassing stories? Will it be hugs, kisses and playing with them? It may be your sacrifices to put your marriage and family ahead of yourself or career.

Jesus lived and sacrificed Himself in a way that is remembered. He valued meals together, special celebrations and surprising servant hood (washing dirty feet). He is the only one whose love can literally cover over a multitude of our sins. But it’s a great encouragement to know that the way we love can erase dumb or damaging deeds in life, whether others’ or our own.

What will your kids remember about you? Funny and embarrassing stories? Will it be hugs, kisses and playing with them? It may be your sacrifices to put your marriage and family ahead of yourself or career.

Go Deep:

Give some thought to the question, “How do I want to be remembered?”

I want the answer to be, “He loved us.”

What’s your answer…and what’s the next step to shaping those memories.

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

by

The Gideon Principle | Facing Your Blitz Weekly Video Devotion

,

Find out what encouraged a fearful ancient warrior and a ten-year old baseball player with a broken arm.

Game Plan: 

“And the angel of the LORD appeared to him and said to him, “The LORD is with you, O mighty man of valor.” Judges 6:12, NLT

“So, encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.” I Thessalonians 5:11, NLT

Time Out:

Your past does not determine your identity. Nor do your failings or your fears. God determines your identity. He created you. He sacrificed for you. He adopted you. He invites you to accept His love and be His representative to others so they can know Him and His love.

Parents, spouses, grandparents, mentors…we live out our highest purpose when we call another person into their identity. Affirm them. Name them. Declare their character and purpose…even before they see or demonstrate it. God did this for Gideon.

Your past does not determine your identity. Nor do your failings or your fears. God determines your identity.

Go Deep:

Accept the identity God gives you…a beloved son or daughter…a man or woman of valor…a representative of God to show His love to others.

Pass on that kind of encouragement and identity to those you love and lead. Don’t focus on their past or their present. Define their future…the potential God sees and can shape in them. Be like my friend to her son. Be like God to Gideon. Define the good in their heart. Call out their destiny. Practice the Gideon Principle.

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

by

Your Perfect Dad…Forgive, Thank, Live | Facing Your Blitz Weekly Video Devotion

,

 

You may have mixed emotions on Father’s Day…watch and be reminded of the Perfect Father.

Game Plan: 

“Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.” Colossians 3:13, NLT

“Honor your father and mother —which is the first commandment with a promise— ‘so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.’ Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord” Ephesians 6:2-4, NIV

Time Out:

One of the hinge points of life is that our identity is so dependent upon father. The secret is to base our identity on how the perfect Father relates to us, not our human father. Human fathers can do great good and great harm. The perfect Father in Heaven designed us, sacrificed for us and saved us. Drawing toward Him and accepting His love does the greatest good for our identity and life.

The perfect Father in Heaven designed us, sacrificed for us and saved us. Drawing toward Him and accepting His love does the greatest good for our identity and life.

Go Deep:

Forgiveness sets us free. It does not ignore reality or pain, but it moves beyond it. Draw on God’s forgiveness. Write down the hurt and pain caused by your dad. Forgive it. Then, shred or burn the list.

Write a letter to your dad to honor him as your dad and thank him. Seek anything good and appreciate it. God does good things in us when we forgive and honor our parent.

For inspiration, go to HonorYourFathertoday.com for stories about fatherhood, healing, and growth. You may even want to post your own video honoring your father.

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

by

A Thank You List to Dad | Facing Your Blitz Weekly Video Devotion

,

Thank You List to Dad

“Gratitude is getting a great deal of attention as a facet of positive psychology: Studies show that we can deliberately cultivate gratitude, and can increase our well-being and happiness by doing so. In addition, gratefulness—and especially expression of it to others—is associated with increased energy, optimism, and empathy.” (Psychologytoday.com)

Game Plan: 

“Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the LORD your God is giving you.” Exodus 20:12, NLT

Time Out:

If you knew you’d only see your mom or dad, grandparent or mentor one last time, what would you want to thank them for? Gratitude is a central life principle throughout the Bible and in current psychology research. Expressing gratitude is beneficial both for you and the person you thank.

If you knew you’d only see your mom or dad, grandparent or mentor one last time, what would you want to thank them for?

Go Deep:

Yep, your dad or mom is imperfect. They’ve fallen short or let you down. I get it. But, remember the back-story in their life and don’t dwell on their faults. Dwell on their positives. To honor and thank them is God’s calling…His good guidance, and He is never wrong.

Father’s Day is approaching. Start your list. Write down everything you can thank your father for. Dig deep. Little things count. Plan to sit down or call him to share your gratitude, item-by-item. It’s powerful.

You’ll want to make a list for other people, too. Be sure to share it.

For inspiration, go to HonorYourFathertoday.com for stories about fatherhood, healing, and growth. You may even want to post your own video honoring your father.

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

by

Pass On a Blessing | Facing Your Blitz Weekly Video Devotion

,

“My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person: He believed in me.” Jim Valvano

Game Plan: 

“To Timothy, my dear son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I thank God…as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. For this reason, I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline…He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus …our Savior…” 2 Tim 1:2-9 NIV

Time Out:

Think about the blessing you wished you’d gotten from your father or mother. Remember how God the Father said of Jesus, “This is my Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Who is God asking you to bless? A child or grandchild? Spouse? Someone without a parent in his or her life?

Pray about the persons you want to affirm and bless by asking for God’s very best in their heart and life.

Think about the blessing you wished you’d gotten from your father or mother.Pray about a person you want to affirm and bless by asking for God’s very best in their heart and life.

Go Deep:

Talk to God about this. Do the following for the person you want to bless:

  • Write down one sentence about how you love and are pleased with him or her.
  • One sentence about their identity.
  • One sentence about their mission.
  • One sentence about God’s control and benevolence in their life.
  • Pray that blessing for them privately for a period.
  • Let God tell you when you should create a special time to bless them by putting your hand on them and praying the blessing out loud. Or, write it in a letter and send it to them.

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

by

Dream Lost, Dream Gained | Facing Your Blitz Weekly Video Devotion

,

“My concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.” Abraham Lincoln

Game Plan: 

“When Joseph was taken to Egypt by the Ishmaelite traders, he was purchased by Potiphar, an Egyptian officer. Potiphar was captain of the guard for Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. The LORD was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master. Potiphar noticed this and realized that the LORD was with Joseph, giving him success in everything he did. This pleased Potiphar, so he soon made Joseph his personal attendant. He put him in charge of his entire household and everything he owned. From the day Joseph was put in charge of his master’s household and property…

But the LORD was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love. And the LORD made Joseph a favorite with the prison warden. Before long, the warden put Joseph in charge of all the other prisoners and over everything that happened in the prison. The warden had no more worries, because Joseph took care of everything. The LORD was with him and caused everything he did to succeed.” Genesis 39:1-5,21-23, NLV

Time Out:

Do you judge whether God is with you by whether your circumstances are going well or poorly? Joseph didn’t. God is always with you. God always cares. God has a bigger story for good in play that we often can’t see. That played out in the tough chapters of Bart Millard’s life as well.

If you fully knew that the Lord is with you in every situation, how would your outlook and attitude change.

Decide to remind yourself every day, in every situation, that “God is with me.” Life depends upon God, not us. God has control, not us.

Go Deep:

Read the full story of Joseph in Genesis 37 -50. What a biography! It’s an epic story of blitzes, God’s grace and God’s triumphs. Decide to remind yourself every day, in every situation, that “God is with me”. Life depends upon God, not us. God has control, not us.

When dreams die, when people hurt you, when trials hit you…remind yourself that God is with you. He’s writing a larger story that the snapshot you can see at the moment.

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

by

Mourn Early, Love Fully | Facing Your Blitz Weekly Video Devotion

,

Mother’s Day is a day to take nothing for granted, especially your parents. Do better than a card one day a year…grow the connection and conversation.

Game Plan: 

“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.” Exodus 20:12, ESV “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Matthew 5:4, ESV

Time Out:

If your mom or dad, grandmother or grandfather, is still alive…choose to imagine that they are gone. What would you miss?

What do you want to express or experience with them before they pass? A list of things to thank them for? A couple things to apologize for? A few stories of their life that you’d like to hear.

Go Deep:

Focus on the treasure in your parent or grandparent. Imagine them gone and mourn that loss.

Pray for your relationship to be closer and enriching for the final chapter of their lives.

Choose to steward their remaining days by appreciating, affirming, listening to and caring for them.

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

by

Good PDA…Parental Displays of Affection | Facing Your Blitz Weekly Video Devotion

,

Want to make your kids giggle or blush…in a good way.

Game Plan: 

“So, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” Philippians 2:1-4, ESV

Time Out:

Looking to meet the best interests of our spouse and children includes showing affection and tenderness.

God’s word honors affection, sympathy, comfort, encouragement and physical expression. Imagine how Jesus smiled, hugged and embraced people. I’m betting there will be a lot of affection in heaven.

Does your personality, upbringing or laziness stop you from looking out for the interests of your spouse and kids by demonstrating your affection, gratitude and love?

Do your kids hear you say, “I love you”, to your spouse? And do they get to see hugs, kisses and embrace.

Looking to meet the best interests of our spouse and children includes showing affection and tenderness.

Go Deep:

Talk to God this week about how you can show gratitude and affection for those you love. Ask Him to help you “shower the people you love with love” (assist from James Taylor).

Hug your husband…a lot. Hold her hand…frequently. Kiss each other…every day. Let your kids see and feel your embraces, hugs and kisses.

Don’t be afraid to put the sparkle back in your spouse’s and your eyes. Deep down, the kids will love it too.

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

by

Holding Hands While Arguing? | Facing Your Blitz Jeff Kemp Weekly Video Devotion

,

Guess what couple can argue while holding hands. Could this be a new therapy? Watch to find out.

Game Plan: 

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9, ESV

Time Out:

Perseverance is a proven path to positive outcomes.

Consider what “doing good” in marriage looks like:

  • Commitment when it’s hardest.
  • Kindness when you disagree.
  • Being safe when your spouse is emotional or vulnerable with you.
  • Apologizing first.
  • Forgiving generously.
  • Getting help.
  • Working to change yourself, not your spouse.

Perseverance is a proven path to positive outcomes…especially in marriage

Go Deep:

God doesn’t grow weary of doing good for us, even though we don’t deserve it.

Let’s take His advice and do good to our spouse, every day and in many ways.

Ask God for help and choose to persevere.

Maybe it will even help to hold hands next time you get in an argument.

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

by

How “Beeping” Your Spouse Can Sweeten Your Marriage | Facing Your Blitz Weekly Video Devotion

,

How do you bug your spouse? Learn how a change, even a beep, can make marriage sweet.

Game Plan: 

“In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered” I Peter 3:7, NLT

Time Out:

We tend to think of things our spouse does to bug us, not vice versa. In my case, there are many more things I do to bug her. What do you do that bugs your wife? What do you do that makes her stress or feel unsafe? For me it was, and still can be, how I drive. To figure it out, ask her?

Your wife’s happiness is your happiness. Give her honor. Treat her with understanding, not carelessness.

Go Deep:

Your wife’s happiness is your happiness. Give her honor. Treat her with understanding, not carelessness. Find an area that she’d love to see you change and change it. Maybe it’s giving her a quick, sweet way to warn or ask you.

A “beep” can be way better than a nag or a scolding.

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

by