You’re Not Disqualified | Facing Your Blitz Weekly Video Devotion

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It’s not too late to change or make a positive impact. Check out this divorced dad’s story…and the one to follow about a prostitute who made an awesome comeback.

Game Plan:

“People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.” Proverbs 28:13, NLT

(Read about Rahab in Joshua chapter 2 & 6; Matthew 1:5,17; Ruth 4:20-22)

Time Out:

My buddy Terry demonstrated unconditional, sacrificial love. He’d probably fallen short on that in the past. He was a divorced dad, not married anymore, but he tapped into Jesus and modeled great husbanding to his watching daughter. He set a great example.

If it were not for Jesus’ forgiveness, everybody would be disqualified. Two things: let’s stop hiding our sins and stop condemning ourselves for our past.

Made mistakes? Tough past? Get in line. Let God rewrite your present and your future. You are not disqualified. Make a difference in someone’s life.

Go Deep:

I just read about a young lady named Rahab in Joshua chapter 2 and 6. She was a prostitute. That didn’t stop her from stepping up to help God’s men spying out the city of Jericho. She insisted that they protect her family. Her life and lifestyle changed. She later married a guy named Salmon…and they spawned (pardon the pun) children and a great-great-grandson, King David…who was related to King Jesus.

Let God rewrite your present and your future. You are not disqualified. Make a difference in someone’s life.

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Fire Yourself | Facing Your Blitz Weekly Video Devotion

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I’ve been traded and cut by coaches before, but check out this story about firing myself.

Game Plan:

“Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding” Daniel 2:20-21, ESV

Time Out:

I ­­didn’t want to resign and give away our organization…but I was faced with a blitz and knew God was up to something, even though I didn’t know what it would look like.  It comes down to trusting Him or trusting myself.

Read chapter 2 in the book of Daniel. Daniel worked for a “secular” boss. The King didn’t believe in or tolerate Daniel’s God. He was about to kill all his wise advisors, including Daniel, because no one could interpret the king’s dream. Daniel heard from God but didn’t know if the king would change his mind or not. That’s when he declared that God can change things in any way He wishes and we should ask for wisdom to handle those changes. 

You don’t need the circumstances or outcomes you want. You need God.

Go Deep:

Ask yourself this question a few times this week, and every week: “How attached am I to my version of my life… career, circumstances, finances etc?”

Attach yourself more to God and His sovereign plans for your life than to your version of your life. Ask Him for wisdom and knowledge of what to do. Then trust Him and do the new thing He shows you.

Fire yourself. Put God in charge.

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Brothers Compete in Love | Facing Your Blitz Weekly Video Devotion

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Love is a feeling. Right? Wrong. Love is sacrifice as illustrated by these two brothers. Enjoy.

Game Plan:

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35, ESV

Time Out:

God has always coached us humans on how to live well: love others as we love ourselves. But, Jesus set a way higher standard. He instructed us to love each other the way He loved us. Think about that…He left Heaven, endured temptation, and chose to die for us when we did not deserve it!

To love sacrificially is the best thing for us…for others… and for God. Do anonymous things to bless other people.

Go Deep:

To love sacrificially is the best thing for us…for others… and for God. Do anonymous things to bless other people. And, prepare yourself to copy the love of Jesus and give up much to do what is best for your spouse, child, sibling or parent…particularly when it’s hard.

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Letting Go of a Dream | Facing Your Blitz Weekly Video Devotion

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When does a dream of yours prevent what is best in your life? Watch how an NFL quarterback called an audible, dropping one dream for a better path.

Game Plan:

“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.” Ps. 139:23, NIV

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Prov 3:5-6, NIV

Time Out:

Are you attached to a dream that might be holding you back from God’s best for you? Perhaps you’re pursuing something that is taking too much out of you and taking too much from your marriage, family or relationship with God? Maybe that has happened in your past. God will help us to discern if a dream or passion of ours is not the best path for us. He invites us to trust Him and let Him guide us, rather than our own incomplete and flawed thinking.

A key measure of whether you are trusting God or yourself is whether you are transparent and openly share your motives and goals with mature, respected advisers.

Go Deep:

God invites us to seek understanding and direction from Him. Pray and invite God to examine your heart, motives and goals in life. Ask God if the dream and goals you are pursuing are of your own understanding and design? A key measure of whether you are trusting God or yourself is whether you are transparent and openly share your motives and goals with mature, respected advisers.

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Don’t Predetermine…Trust | Facing Your Blitz Weekly Video Devotion

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Do unwanted circumstances, situations and conversations upset you deeply? Consider what NFL quarterbacks need to learn about the risks of predetermining.

Game Plan:

“Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil.” James 4:13:16, NLT

Time Out:

Do you anchor your expectations in cement? If you do, it magnifies your disappointment and resentment when expectations aren’t met.

Do you grab the reigns of control with intensity? If you do, there’s a pride and pretention problem that damages your faith, your relationships and your peace.

Just like quarterbacks need to read a defense, rather than guess or predetermine where to throw the ball, we need to let God guide our steps in life. Our mind and will may plan our ways, but it’s the Lord who directs our steps. Are you reading His signals, and welcoming His plans?

Do you anchor your expectations in cement? If you do, it magnifies your disappointment and resentment when expectations aren’t met.

Go Deep:

Decide this week to regularly test your thoughts. Ask yourself if your business, career, family or social plans are shaped by arrogance and presumption? When it comes to your plans and expectations, are prayer, listening and trusting God central to your approach? Make this your first thought and frequent prayer about everything : “IF THE LORD WILLS…”.

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Crisis as Catalyst to Change | Facing Your Blitz Weekly Video Devotion

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What has happened recently that you didn’t want to happen? Could it be a signal for change in your life?

Game Plan:

“About this time Jesus was informed that Pilate had murdered some people from Galilee as they were offering sacrifices at the Temple. “Do you think those Galileans were worse sinners than all the other people from Galilee?”Jesus asked. “Is that why they suffered?  Not at all! And you will perish, too, unless you repent of your sins and turn to God.” Luke 13:1-3, NLT

Time Out:

Michael Phelps did not whine or complain. He avoided the victim role and he was able to adapt, be resilient and make changes that worked out very well. Most of us have a bigger problem than broken bones that damages performance. We have a broken nature that damages relationships…with God, and with others.

“Repent” means to change direction, to turn and go the other way. Jesus used the word repeatedly because He came to save us from our broken nature. Unless we decide to stop going our own way and turn to go with Him, we can’t be saved or changed. What crises and problems are inviting you to repent…to turn control over to God, to live a differently, to change a behavior or habit?

[tweet_box design=”box_08″]”What crises and problems are inviting you to repent…to turn control over to God, to live differently, to change a behavior or habit? Jeff Kemp[/tweet_box]

Go Deep:

In the face of circumstances you didn’t want to happen…decide not to whine or complain. Face the truth about your broken nature and flawed behavior. Take responsibility to adapt. Make a change from controlling your life and give God control. Ask God for a better way to go, and make a U-turn. Repent.

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Saying No to Say Yes | Facing Your Blitz Weekly Video Devotion

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What if each minute of life cost $10? How can answering that question improve your life and your commitment?

Game Plan:

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [money, possessions, fame, status, or whatever is valued more than the Lord].” Luke 16:13 AMP

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” Colossians 3:23 ESV

Time Out:

What if each minute of your life cost $10? What activities would you skip, and what priorities would emerge?

Want to excel at something? Want a great marriage? Want your children to know God, know who they are, and know their purpose in life? Do you want to experience God’s peace and presence in your life? If so, you’ll need to say NO. NO to distractions. Even NO to good things that crowd out the best. Then you can focus.

We can’t have success without dedication. We can’t have dedication without focus. Commitment is saying no to other things so we can say yes to the most important things?

Go Deep:

What do you want to be committed to? Clue…what do you want to be remembered for? What’s worth the devotion of your minutes, hours, days and attention?

Starting this week, let’s treat every minute like it’s worth $10. Say no to watching or reading dumb, worthless stuff. Schedule your time to focus on the very best priorities.

Invest your life. Don’t just spend it. It’s worth way more than $10 a minute.

*** Hey dads, you matter big time! THANK YOU for shaping lives.

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Much Pride-Little Oxygen | Facing Your Blitz Weekly Video Devotion

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Is it important to you that you impress people and avoid embarrassment? If so, your pride may be in the way of what’s best for you. Check out this intense fighter jet story about a near crash and burn.

Game Plan:

“The human heart is deceitful above all things and it is extremely sick; Who can understand it fully and know its secret motives?.” Jeremiah 17:9, AMP

“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18, ESV  

“Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.” Proverbs 12: 15, NLT

Time Out:

The most dangerous thing in our life comes from the blind side…it’s invisible to us. It’s our pride, our arrogance. Pride says I’m better than others. I deserve more. I matter more. It also says, I’m above those rules. I’m an exception. I can make it on my own. Pride comes from the depths of our very tricky and self-centered hearts. We can’t see it and yet it blinds us. How much do you make things about you? How much are you into what people think of you? How many excuses and justifications do you make for yourself?

Don’t let pride cause a life crash. Get courageous and check for signs of pride. Ask a few close friends to observe your actions, words and thinking.

Go Deep:

Arrogance, vanity, pride…they’re all killers in hiding. They destroy character and relationships. Don’t let pride cause a life crash. Get courageous and check for signs of pride. Ask a few close friends to observe your actions, words and thinking. Welcome questions about your motives and actions. Invite close friends to correct or coach you if they see negative things in you. Keep oxygen in your life. Give friends permission to point out your blind side.

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Honor Your Father-Period | Facing Your Blitz Weekly Video Devotion

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Our fathers impact us in huge ways. Is it possible that one of the few forces more impactful than how your father treated you is how you treat your father? Revisit an ancient commandment and think about it.

Game Plan:

“Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.” Deuteronomy 5:16, ESV

Time Out:

Do you have some lingering frustrations with your dad? Resentments or anger? Are there things you never thanked him for? Did you and do you honor his position? Is it possible that “honor your father” is an unconditional maxim much like Jesus loving us selfish, prideful, rebellious knuckleheads is also unconditional? Have you ever realized that we should do what God instructs because, regardless of how it feels, it’s best for us?

Go Deep:

You have a perfect Father. His love, forgiveness and belief in you has made up for any shortcoming in your earthly father. You are free to honor your father and you are blessed in God’s unique ways if you do so. Thank your dad. Forgive your dad. Apologize to your dad. Praise your dad. Vocalize it and live it.

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Leaders — Vision — Team | Facing Your Blitz Weekly Video Devotion

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Who brings detail and vision together? Can you lead more powerfully? What do people need from you? Read through this week’s guide to see how to lead more effectively.

Game Plan:

“Where there is no revelation [no vision], people cast off restraint [loyal attachment]; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.” Proverbs 29:18 NIV

“If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. How strange a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.” In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary.” 1 Corinthians 12:17-22 NLT

Time Out:

Are you a visionary or a details person? Regardless, you are a needed leader because how you act and communicate influences those around you. Your family and people close to you need your positive leadership.

Here’s a question for you detail people…do you make efforts to understand the big vision?

And a question for you visionaries…do you make efforts to celebrate the details of how team members contribute to the larger goals and vision?

Tying the details to the big vision helps people commit and sacrifice for the cause.

Whether you’re a visionary or details person, a leader ties them together to help people commit and sacrifice for the greater cause.

Go Deep:

Think BIG every day. Tie everything you do into the largest goal there is – bringing glory to God and cooperating with Him in His epic rescue mission of humanity. Our family, friends, peers and each person on earth need to see God’s love and hear His truth and good news. Make it your goal to help people see the value of each member of God’s body, each member of the team. Honor the different gifts and roles that people play by describing their importance to the big goals and big vision.

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