Lost Son…Friend Gained | Facing Your Blitz Weekly Video Devotion

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Did someone tick you off recently? Are you still limping from a wound by a friend or family member? This story will help you choose a path forward that is better for them, and way better for you.

Game Plan:

“See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:15-17, ESV)

“Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters.[a] Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing.” (1 Peter 3:8-9, NLT)

Time Out:

We’d all like for other people to be sensitive and kind to us when we mess up. But when other people hurt us, we often default to victim mode and justify our ill feelings and words toward those who harm us. God’s Word guides us to respond radically when we are treated badly, even deeply wounded. Showing grace and concern for others follows Jesus’ example, increases peace and heals our hearts much better than anger and retaliation. God actually brings us His blessing when we return good after we experience bad, even evil.

Go Deep:

If you have been deeply hurt, or have grown up with people and habits that retaliate quickly when wronged, this message may rub you the wrong way. Fairness matters to you. Getting walked on stinks…but letting it get to you deepens the stink. If kindness in the face of brutal treatment won’t work for you, it’s time to think bigger. Consider the radical forgiveness and kindness that Jesus has shown to a world that chose evil over good, selfishness over love. Try things God’s way…choose humility, sympathy and kindness. Blessing others who don’t deserve it brings a blessing to us, who also don’t deserve it.

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Feeling No Pain Hurts Us | Facing Your Blitz Weekly Video Devotion

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Wouldn’t it be great to feel no pain? Think again. Pain is an important signal. To avoid it is impossible. To ignore it is unwise. To face it as a catalyst to becoming a better person is the only way to gain from pain.

Gameplan:

“For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.” ~Hebrews 12:10-11, NLT

Time Out:

If you could avoid pain, you would miss out on many improvements in your character and direction in life. Pain keeps us from more seriously injuring others or ourselves. It signals that something needs to be treated, fixed or changed. Pain can humble us, prevent pride, show our faults, reveal our misplaced expectations, declare our weakness, turn us to God, build our empathy, train our character, grow our creativity, increase our perseverance, and allow us to experience what Jesus did and comfort others as He did. Oswald Chambers wrote that, “Sorrow burns up a great amount of shallowness.”

Go Deep:

Decide to view pain and sorrow differently. See them as a catalyst to change, to learning, to becoming closer to a God who felt infinite pain in suffering for our sake. Look for the lessons in pain. Ask questions: What should I learn? How can I grow? Who can I better help because I have felt this pain?

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The Dungys Face the Ultimate Blitz | Facing Your Blitz Weekly Video Devotion

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Sometimes the pain in this life is so great that only an eternal perspective can heal. Today’s zeitgeist is “have it all…here and now”. But, in reality, we are not just bodies; we are souls with bodies. We will live forever with God, or live forever without Him.

Gameplan:

But now that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers became fearful. “Now Joseph will show his anger and pay us back for all the wrong we did to him,” they said. So they sent this message to Joseph: “Before your father died, he instructed us to say to you: ‘Please forgive your brothers for the great wrong they did to you—for their sin in treating you so cruelly.’ So we, the servants of the God of your father, beg you to forgive our sin.” When Joseph received the message, he broke down and wept. Then his brothers came and threw themselves down before Joseph. “Look, we are your slaves!” they said. But Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.” ~Genesis 50:15-20, NLT

Time Out:

In the life of Joseph, his brothers meant evil by selling him as a slave, but Joseph transcended their evil intent to bring goodness and life to them and many others. In our lives, God’s enemy means evil, but God overcomes evil and even death. Never forget to account for eternity and God’s costly gift of eternal life.

Go Deep:

Are you chasing hard after the finances and rewards of career? Is your focus on getting your life to be comfortable and thrilling? Be aware, God designed you to never be satisfied with less than knowing Him forever. Are you facing the most painful of losses, perhaps the loss of a child or spouse? My heart goes out to you. Ask God to help you and others vibrantly see the eternal life Jesus achieved for us.

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The Power of a Praying Son | Facing Your Blitz Weekly Video Devotion

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What happens on the night you get fired? Does everyone go quiet? Does someone pray at dinner? Is it desperate? Or, does a child talk to God in innocent faith?

Gameplan:

I assure you and most solemnly say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God [with faith and humility] like a child will not enter it at all.   Luke 18:17, AMP

Time Out:

Has life complicated and compromised your faith in God? Have you shrunk God down to a smaller size of your own making? Has science and philosophy made it harder for you to accept that God is sovereign over all things, even over our human rebellion-damaged world? Perhaps innocent children have the simplicity and limitlessness of faith correct?

Go Deep:

If you’re a dad, pray with your children as often as you can. Make talking to God normal at your breakfast, lunch and dinner table…and certainly at bedtime.

If your view of God has shrunk… and your faith in His goodness and power is limited, do something different. Ask God to open your eyes, erase your doubts and increase your faith.

Oh, and if you lose your job, ask your six year old to pray

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A Son’s Birth…Steve Largent’s Blitz | Facing Your Blitz Weekly Video Devotion

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The NFL Network recently ran “A FOOTBALL LIFE” on Steve Largent. Besides his dad leaving his family when he was six, the deepest blitz he ever faced was the early days of his son Kramer’s birth defect. It deeply shaped Steve for good. Let’s see how we can grow.

Gameplan:

I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.  I can do [handle] all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:12-13 (ESV)

Time Out:

We can’t control the circumstances of our lives, as much as society coaches us to try. But the Apostle Paul says something radical to us. No matter the situation, he could, and we can, handle it through our surrender to and trust in Jesus Christ. His Spirit fills us to handle anything. Don’t doubt this. The key is to abide in Jesus (think about, talk to, listen to, rejoice in, trust, serve, obey, and love) constantly and trust Him in every situation.

Go Deep:

Determine that the next time you face trouble, loss, and trial you’ll turn to God and take His approach: ask for help. Call out to God and be ready to accept the help of key friends or mentors. And, look for someone else to encourage. Then, in time, your challenge will give you empathy and experience to help support others in their trial.

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In Tough Times—Share the Burden | Facing Your Blitz Weekly Video Devotion

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What are the most trying things you’ve been through? Did you mostly go through it alone, or with help? What will happen next time you go through a big blitz, or a friend does?

Gameplan:

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Galatians 6:2-3 (ESV)

Comfort those who are in any trouble by the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” 2 Corinthians 1:4 ESV

Time Out:

Life’s toughest blitzes don’t turn around quickly. The fear, pain and grief are often intense. But God offers a bigger perspective and a cause greater than us. He has two approaches for us: ask for help and, offer help. God wants you to allow others to help bear your burdens and he wants to use you to help bear the burdens that others face. View your blitzes and trials as the bridge to helping others. The sooner you see this, the sooner your spirits will be buoyed.

Go Deep:

Determine that the next time you face trouble, loss, and trial you’ll turn to God and take His approach: ask for help. Call out to God and be ready to accept the help of key friends or mentors. And, look for someone else to encourage. Then, in time, your challenge will give you empathy and experience to help support others in their trial.

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Don’t Be An Observer-Be the Solution | Facing Your Blitz Weekly Video Devotion

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If there were no fire department, and you drove through a neighborhood with a home on fire, would you gather people to fight the fire?  The answer depends upon our sense of responsibility to help others, and upon our mindset to tackle problems rather than observe them.

Gameplan:

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.     Galatians 6:2-3  (ESV)

Time Out:

Modern life has thoroughly trained us to be consumers who wired to be entertained. Being entertained as a consumer in life can bring an arrogance and aloofness that places us on the sidelines of life.  If we’re not careful we fall into the rut of thinking, “someone else can take care of that”.

Go Deep:

Decide to examine your basic approach to life’s situations and problems facing other people.  Are you more interested in observing or helping?  Do you leave the matter to others, or take the initiative to help out?  Jesus is the role model for each of us.  He was not an observer.  He was a solver.  Pray for ways to help people and solve problems…and then be on alert to put out the fire.

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Ice Cream After Getting Fired | Facing Your Blitz Weekly Video Devotion

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Do you know what’s often worse than bad things happening? It’s the fear of bad things happening. Sometimes we build up the gravity and horrendous nature of negative events that may happen in the future to the point that the fear is really the most damaging thing we face. Think about how the page usually turns and new chapters unfold after bad things happen in life. Are you seeing life through your lens or God’s lens?

Gameplan:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)

Time Out:

Think about the “bad” stuff you’ve had happen to you in life. Did worrying about it make it better or worse? Despite the pain was there any positive to take from it? Whose perspective causes you to worry, yours or God’s.

Go Deep:

If you want the best attitude and response to a blitz, think about the long term of your life and eternity. Remember to seek God’s perspective and understanding of that situation and what matters most. Declare to yourself and the world that, “I’m OK. God loves me and He’s in charge.” You may even want to shock the kids and go out for ice cream when the next blitz hits.

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Jesus Beat the Blitz—So Can We | Facing Your Blitz Weekly Video Devotion

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When a doctor says he has bad news about what they’ve found, or you learn that your spouse or child’s health is at risk, that pit-of the-stomach wrenching is natural. If you fill your self up with God’s gameplan (His word) you’ll find that God always holds every situation in His hands

Gameplan:

Jesus said, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NLT)

Time Out:

Is God’s peace based on circumstances or His presence? Think about this – if we placed 95% of our gratitude and hope in the perfect eternal life God has planned for those who accept Him, we’d be less panicked about stuff. If we read scripture, we see how God has always been faithful and is sovereign over all of history, and that includes our exact situations.

Go Deep:

Read the story of Joseph and pay attention to the life and sayings of Saul who became the Apostle Paul. Are you willing to make the Bible your mental and emotional software for how to handle life?
Next time you’re in a car accident, or the market crashes, or a diagnosis like cancer hits tell yourself the truth that God is good, in control and cares for you, no matter the outcome.
Don’t panic. Pray for Jesus’ peace.  Ask God to teach you about His sovereignty.

So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.      Deuteronomy 31:6 (NLT)

 

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God’s Purpose: Greater Than Your Comforts | Facing Your Blitz Weekly Video Devotion

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Are you frequently frustrated by the difficulties and disappointments in life? Maybe you see yourself and your kids getting too comfortable with all the busyness and blessings of a prosperous American lifestyle? Let’s take a look at how praying for stronger faith can shake up our lives…for the best.

Gameplan:

Consider it joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials.  Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace].  And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed [in your faith], lacking in nothing.   (James 1:2-4 amp)

Time Out:

Do you think about the strength of your faith? Is it important to you? Is it growing and maturing? Does faith usually grow by going through easy times and big successes or through tough chapters of life? Do you pray for your children’s faith to develop and grow?

Go Deep:

Next time life gets tough (perhaps it is right now), decide to not complain, but actually thank God for allowing you to be in the tough situation or circumstance. Pray that God would free you from putting faith in circumstances and mature your faith in Him. Pray for your children’s faith to grow and talk to them about the long term view of life – knowing God, persevering in faith, becoming more like Jesus, and doing all you do with excellence to honor God and love other people.

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal which is taking place to test you [that is, to test the quality of your faith], as though something strange or unusual were happening to you. 1 Peter 4:12 amp

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