Tag Archive for: Encouragement

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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Lone Ranger or Team Player? | Facing Your Blitz Weekly Video Devotion

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Are you a lone ranger or team player?  That’s a crucial question in life.  Watch this session and see why.

Game Plan:

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 9:2, ESV

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!  Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone?  And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken” Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, ESV

“Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.” Proverbs 18:1, ESV

Time Out:

Do you live your life as a solo act? Does it embarrass you to ask for help? Do you hate to show need because you think people will think you are weak? You may be great at helping others, but did you know that at the root of not wanting to ask for or need the help of others is a form of arrogance? It’s a self-handicapping attitude when you can’t admit your imperfections and need. We’re all imperfect. We all need others. We were made to bear each other’s burdens.

Go Deep:

Ask yourself what is really at the root of why you hesitate to share your challenges or ask for help?  I bet you feel ok about helping someone else when they share their difficulty or need.  Decide to be a team player. 

Choose one person that you can open up to and share with.  Give them a call, or better yet, set up a meeting.  Ask someone for advice or prayer today, and during this week.  Offer your support and prayers to someone else, this week, and for the rest of your life.  Share a burden.  Bear a burden.  Don’t isolate.  Build a team of friends in your life.

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Whose Lenses Are You Wearing | Facing Your Blitz Weekly Video Devotion

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Does life get a bit blurry when you are looking at it? Do you find yourself in some messy predicaments? Watch and consider whose lenses you’re looking through

Game Plan:

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.” Isaiah 55:8, NLT

“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. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the LORD and turn away from evil.” Proverbs 3:5-7, NLT

Time Out:

Whose lenses are you looking through? God’s or your own? Consider your vision, perspective and attitude on life. Is it short term, self-anchored, performance-driven, and conditional? Does it focus on possessions, circumstances, ego, pride, insecurity and fears? Whose vision and desires for your life are ultimately better…yours or God’s? God so wants what is best for us that He even coaches us not to trust or depend on our own thinking, our own understanding and our own ways. Our ways may seem good at the time, but they lead us into some dumb mistakes and messy places.

Go Deep:

Where are you depending on your own vision? Where are you leaning on your own understanding and trusting your own path in life? Ask God to shine the light on where you need to turn your life and attitude over to the Lord. Start each day this week with this prayer: “God, give me your vision. Help me trust you and release my control to You. Help me remember that You love me and guide me to live better than I love and guide myself. Lead me. I trust you.”

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Encourage When Discouraged | Facing Your Blitz Weekly Video Devotion

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Do your problems tend to shrink your awareness to only your situation? There’s a way to get out of that cycle of discouragement. Check out the value of focusing on others when we’re feeling down.

Game Plan:

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

“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

Time Out:

Here’s some advice that sounds backwards, “When you are discouraged or struggling, encourage someone else.” God’s ways are often upside down from the ways of society. Scripture frequently encourages us to encourage others…and that advice is not dependent upon us feeling good about what’s going on with us at the time. We are taught to follow Jesus’ example of loving people unconditionally. We’re also to encourage others no matter how we are feeling. The practical paradox is that encouraging others actually does positive things for our attitude. It gives us greater bandwidth to face whatever difficulty we are facing.

Here’s some advice that sounds backwards, when you are discouraged or struggling, encourage someone else.

Go Deep:

Do a quick assessment. How many times this week did I encourage people? How much am I encouraging my family members? People at work? Friends? I’m sure you like to be encouraged. Choose to give others the very thing that you enjoy. And remember…showing concern and encouragement for others when they are struggling is one of the ways that we can better rise above the times when we are struggling and discouraged. Let your hard times be a trigger for you to look around to encourage someone else.

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