Consuming Kills Love | Facing Your Blitz Weekly Video Devotion

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Want to know what kills love? Check out the email I received.

Game Plan:

“For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[a But if you are always biting and devouring one another [in selfishness, bickering and strife], watch out! Beware of destroying [consuming] one another.” Galatians 5:13-15, NLT

Time Out:

Are you too well trained as a consumer? Do you expect to get a great deal in every area of life? Have you let that self-centric consumerism drift into how you view your spouse, your marriage or relationship? Do you argue or pull away from your spouse because they didn’t behave the way you wanted? Have you let sensual entertainment or pornography turn sex into consumption? Porn kills love. Consumption kills love. It’s time to shift from consumer to investor in your relationships.

Love is putting the interests of another ahead of yourself. God loves you while you do not deserve it.

Go Deep:

Consumption is not love. Love is putting the interests of another ahead of yourself. God loves you while you do not deserve it. He models an investor relationship. Decide to be an investor. Express gratitude. Compliment. Apologize. Forgive. Pay Attention. Meet someone else’s need. Ask your spouse how you can best love them and add value to your relationship.

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Do You Have FOMO? | Facing Your Blitz Weekly Video Devotion

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I fear missing out on good stuff. Do you? Watch and set yourself free.

Game Plan:

“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:1-2, NLT

Time Out:

When we fear missing out on something, do we fear that life won’t be good unless we reach out and grab something that others have? When we fear missing out, are we demonstrating that we have yet to find true contentment? When we fear missing out, have we not learned that contentment is knowing Jesus… and that His plan for us is good, pleasing and complete. God has a paradox for us. If we give up and let go, we gain the most possible. If we give our bodies fully to God, desiring relationship with Him and His cause above everything else, we’ll be worshiping Him in a way that allows Him to change us to be the best and most joyful version of ourselves.

God has a paradox for us. If we give up and let go, we gain the most possible.

Go Deep:

Don’t let the Facebook-fueled and advertising-saturated culture of selfish consumerism rip you off. God alone is the source of pure joy and contentment. Stop trying for too much in too many ways, all at the same time. Ask God for contentment. Clue…it’s knowing and serving Him. Commitment brings freedom…Commitment requires focus…Focus will gladly skip lesser things to seek the best.

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Consumer or Investor? | Facing Your Blitz Weekly Video Devotion

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Is it time for a reminder of what vitalizes and what corrodes friendship and marriage?  Take a minute and align yourself with the Relationship Investor Paradigm.

Game Plan:

“This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:12-13, NLT

“A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.” [Family sticks together in all kinds of weather.] Proverbs 17:17, NLT

Time Out:

Jesus loves in a way that initiates, perseveres and always does what’s best for us…He invests!

Have you been doing more consuming or investing lately? In relationships, not finances! Do you wait for people to apologize to you first? Do you have expectations of him or her that you don’t communicate? Is there some bitterness or resentment growing?

A consumer in relationships is focused on what treatment I’m going to get. The consumer is asking, “Who is going to be kind to me?”

Ask yourself, “Have I been long-term or short-term oriented in my marriage, relationship, or friendships lately?”

Go Deep:

As you read those questions…you realized that there is someone you want to apologize to. Follow through. Make an investment in them and the relationship. As a relationship investor, you may say something like:

“Hey, I’ve not valued you as well as I want to I was wrong.” “I’m sorry.” “Will you forgive me?” “Going forward, how can I encourage and help you?”

How about this? Every morning, remind yourself and ask God to help you be an investor, not a consumer. I think you’ll find that the investment will multiply

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What’s Your Power Source? | Facing Your Blitz Weekly Video Devotion

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Are you handling your stresses, pressures and situations just fine on your own? Then you can skip this video and God’s words showing another way. But, if you’re like most of us, you need to know where your power comes from in order to deal with those issues. And for you, read on...

Game Plan:

“I can do [handle] all things through him [Jesus] who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13, ESV

“I [Jesus] am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides [remains connected to and dependent] in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit [love, joy, patience, kindness, faithfulness, courage, eternally significant influence…], for apart from me [Jesus] you can do nothing.” John 15:5, ESV

Time Out:

Simply stated, you and I can’t do anything that is eternally pleasing or significant without God. We were not made to operate on our own intellect, efforts and emotional resilience. Nor were we made to operate on psychological insights, extrinsic rewards, or mood-altering activities and substances. We were made to gain our identity in a dependent relationship with the God who made and rescued us. When we admit we are weak, we allow Him to be our strength. That is far more strength and power than we can muster up in any other way.

Simply stated, you and I can’t do anything that is eternally pleasing or significant without God.

Go Deep:

Write a list of all the things you are trying to handle on your own…things you don’t invite God to deal with.

Write a list of all the techniques, approaches, activities and substances you utilize in your attempt to survive, succeed or be happy on your own? Read that list and tell yourself that you’re an idiot. You’ve been duped by the enemy.

Begin a conversation this week with God. Tell Him you’re sorry for trying to be your own power source, for leaning on your ways instead of His, for running your own life.

Ask Him to reveal to you how much He loves you and to show you how to abide in Jesus through daily connection, surrender, joy, gratitude, praise, communication and dependence. Open the bible.

Ask God to open your eyes and heart to what He wants to say to you. Read it, journal about what you read and learn. Abide.

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Your Purpose…LIFT | Facing Your Blitz Weekly Video Devotion

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There was something very special about Jack Kemp. Take a minute and find out what it was, and how you can do it.

Game Plan:

“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.  And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” Hebrews 10:24-25, NLT

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

Time Out:

So how can we LIFT our spouse or ex-spouse, our children or in-laws, our friends or people at work? Affirm their gifts, strengths and character. Value them and their role. Validate their personality and example. Thank them specifically. Encourage their influence. Inspire their impact on others. Express trust and confidence in their future.

What is the purpose of life? I think life’s purpose is to get to know God and to glorify Him.

That means we have to learn how to accept His love. It also means we will change…become more like God designed us to be.

Life Is for Transformation…LIFT. 

To bring things from “not good” to good, from “not God” to God, we are to become more like Jesus. We change.  We lift others. We are to become a life-giver, an encourager, created to help people become their best – someone who brings hope to people and to tough situations.

What is the purpose of life? I think life’s purpose is to get to know God and to glorify Him!

Go Deep:

Who lifts you? If you’re struggling to answer that, run to God’s love letter to you and  read Genesis, Psalm 23, John, Romans 8, Colossians. Are you a glass half empty or half full person?  Either way, you have water in your glass….and God has an unlimited supply. Make it your goal to fill other people with encouragement, confidence and hope.

Who are you lifting? 

Who needs your lift?

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Don’t Assume…Pray | Facing Your Blitz Weekly Video Devotion

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Find out why quarterbacks throw dumb interceptions…and why you and I do dumb things in relationships.

Game Plan:

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” Proverbs 3:5-6, NLT

Time Out:

Interceptions occur when quarterbacks predetermine which receiver they will throw to, even if he’s covered. Assumptions lead to trouble. But, reading the field leads to success.

What mistakes have you made…what mistakes are you making…because you assume things about others, especially your spouse and kids?

Don’t assume they know how much you love and believe in them. Don’t assume they know you’re sorry and didn’t disappoint them on purpose. Don’t assume your kids won’t see porn on their friend’s phone, or their own.

What mistakes have you made…what mistakes are you making…because you assume things about others, especially your spouse and kids?

Go Deep:

The solution to assumptions and errors is to trust God, not yourself.

Pray. Ask God to give you sensitivity and insight into the needs of your loved ones.

Ask. Ask them to help you understand more about them and their lives.

Learn. Learn from God and others, instead of assuming and guessing.

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Blocking is Love | Facing Your Blitz Weekly Video Devotion

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Why are linemen more like Jesus than quarterbacks? Check it out and practice their greatness.

Game Plan:

“Who would you rather be: the one who eats the dinner or the one who serves the dinner? You’d rather eat and be served, right? But I’ve taken my place among you as the one who serves.” Luke 22:27, NLT

Time Out:

Who would you rather be? The quarterback or the lineman? The visible one who gets the benefit or the invisible one who serves?

A lineman’s blocking is a sacrifice to help others. So is love.

(P.S. God is love and He rewards love – service done in love.) What are the ways you can be the servant of great relationships in your family, at work, and everywhere else?

Go Deep:

Pray for People. Do an errand or task for someone else. Schedule it around their schedule. Ask questions about their life and interests. Defer to their choice or desire. Consider and meet their need. Apologize first. Forgive first. Coach and assist them to succeed. Communicate clearly and respectfully with a desire to understand them.

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Help Your Team | Facing Your Blitz Weekly Video Devotion

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You may not be rooting for your favorite team. Watch this and recommit yourself to bringing out the best in your ultimate team.

Game Plan:

“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing” I Thessalonians 5:11, ESV

(So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you’re already doing this; just keep on doing it.) – from The Message, by Eugene Peterson

“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.” Hebrews 10:24, NLT

Time Out:

Is your life about “me” or “WE”?

Are you very conscious to identify yourself as a teammate to others?

Are you looking for encouragement? Or giving it?

When you drive your car… or have a free moment in the day…or when you get quiet to pray… and when you lay down to bed…do you think, pray and plan how you can help others know their value, feel loved and be their best?

Ask God to give you humility and a heart to identify yourself by the quality of your relationships.

Go Deep:

Ask God to give you humility and a heart to identify yourself by the quality of your relationships. 

Think team.  Act team.  Speak encouragement to the team. 

Cheer for your spouse and kids. 

Pray for God’s best ways to serve, encourage and assist them. 

Help God bring out the best in them.

PS.  Over 10,000 couples registered to get away to a Weekend To Remember during the last two weeks.  That’s way more than last year at this time.  Marriage rejuvenation on the way

Stay Connected:

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Give Up Your Seat | Facing Your Blitz Weekly Video Devotion

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It’s crazy how we can be blind to our own hypocrisy and selfishness. Watch this story and return to being the best version of you.

Game Plan:

“And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.” Luke 6: 31, ESV

Time Out:

When you get in line at the airport or look for seats or overhead luggage space on a plane, does your concern for yourself crowd out any consideration of others? Do you want to be served and treated special? That was not the way Jesus lived. Remember that your character is who you are in all situations, with all people.

Go Deep:

Our character won’t be golden unless we follow the Golden Rule. A great starting point is to consider how much grace and undeserved love God has showered on us. Gratitude. If we start with gratitude, treating others well will be way easier. If we take joy in treating people well, we will start to do it naturally and consistently.

Next time you travel, consider the other people’s comfort, even giving away a good seat.

Next time you are in traffic, drive your thoughts toward gratitude to God. Then, slow down to make room for cars trying to merge into your lane. Ya…that’s a tough one!

Next time things get stressed in your marriage or family, be grateful for your spouse and kids. Then, make an effort to improve their day or sacrifice to make their situation easier.

Oh…don’t forget to look at last weeks video about hope for marriages and the special half price Weekend To Remember. Invest in your joy and his or hers To find a Weekend to Remember near you, go to https://weekendtoremember.com

Stay Connected:

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Turn Your Marriage Around | Facing Your Blitz Weekly Video Devotion

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Ray and Felissia were headed toward divorce. Hear their turnaround story and watch to see the hope and help available for you too.

Game Plan:

“Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice [ just ways ] of God. You will always harvest what you plant.” Galatians 6:7, NLT

Time Out:

We reap what we sow. We get out what we put in. Assets grow when we invest. Effort pays off. If this is so, why do we dream that marriage will be easy and automatic? Why think that relationships shouldn’t take work?

Why would we think that ‘struggling and unhappy’ is the best we can get? God invented marriage to succeed when we depend upon Him and follow His blueprints.

Go Deep:

Don’t give up on your marriage or settle for average. Get some coaching and put some effort every year into building your marriage.

There are lots of ways to deepen your marriage…books, videos, mentors and counselors. One pathway has helped over a million people. It’s what we do at FamilyLife where I work…the Weekend to Remember marriage getaway.

INVEST…get away for a weekend of fun and fueling your marriage or tell a young couple or friends that you’ll pay for their registration.

I really want you and your spouse to be blessed and to thrive. Take advantage of our SPOUSES GO FREE promotion by September 19 and use my group name, JeffKemp. It’s the best price we offer all year! Find locations and dates and register at WeekendToRemember.com

Stay Connected:

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

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