Advancing Through Adversity

“God led you through the wilderness…to prove your character.”

DETERONOMY 8:2 (NLT -NEW LIVING TRANSLATION)

ADVANCING THROUGH ADVERSITY 

God led the children of Israel through the wilderness: “to prove [their] character, and…find out whether or not [they] would obey his commandments.” They could choose to perish there, or trust Him to bring them safely to the Promised Land.

One author writes: “How many times have you changed courses in life, rather than pass the test and get through the tough stuff to the promises of God? He wants to know if you are worthy of the blessing that awaits you on the other side of the Jordan.

Do you have the courage to face the challenges, or will you go back and settle for second best? If you’re facing a challenge that stands between you and your promise…look at Joshua 1:9 and Daniel 10:19 for courage. Ask God to give you the courage to face whatever hurdles stand in the way of your claiming what God has prepared for you.”

The landscape along Florida’s Everglades is dotted with wiry, primitive-looking trees known as Caribbean Pines. They thrive in a rugged environment, can withstand prolonged periods of drought and fire, and hold their own against the fiercest hurricanes. In fact, if you plant them in a cultivated setting they usually shrivel and die. Joni Eareckson Tada says: “Like Caribbean Pines, our souls usually don’t thrive during good times.

Our hearts grow complacent, our need of God becomes less urgent, our hope of heaven dims, and our prayer life dries up…in a beautiful setting with our needs met and every resource at our fingertips…our soul shrivels…We need an occasional blast of storm or fiery trial if our faith is to mature.”

This devotionals has been brought to you by Bob Gass Ministries: www.bobgass.org

Advice on How to Control Your Anger by Deepak Chopra

When someone tears you down, how do you react without anger? That's the question Raheem, 22, has for spiritual teacher and author Deepak Chopra on "Help Desk," a new special on OWN.

"I have an anger problem that I want to control before I reach the breaking point," Raheem says in the video.

"Back in my neighborhood, when I do yoga, there’s a lot of people around there that make fun of it and think it’s not a ‘man’ thing to do," he says.

"So I started to get angry and pissed off," Raheem continues. "I want to just relax, and not get in trouble for it."

Chopra has advice for him. "So this is very good that you’re changing, but people around you are stuck in the old ways of violence and false ideas of masculinity," Chopra says. "And they are ridiculing you, and in a way they are challenging your integrity."

"So the first thing you have to realize is that you are transforming, and when you transform, it’s uncomfortable for other people who can’t see where you are going," Chopra tells Raheem.

He explains the challenge is to not react. "You don’t transform them by reacting, you transform them through your personal transformation," Chopra says. "You want to be the change you want to see in them. But you have to be patient."

"Will you try it?" Chopra asks.

"Yes," Raheem says, nodding.

"And I'll come there and I'll help you with this," Chopra says.

Inspirational

Integrity Vs. Popularity by Rick Warren

“Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the

glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” (Luke 9:26 NIV)

One day, you’ll give an account of your life before God. When you keep that in mind and have that kind of long-term thinking, it’s going to change what you say, what you do, and who you try to 

impress. It’s the people-pleaser antidote.

When you take that long look and realize you’re going to give an account for every word you say today, you’ll ask yourself,

“Do I want God disapproving of what I just said or did, or do I want this person disapproving of what I just said or did?”

I know this because I’ve been interviewed on lots of tv shows. In those broadcasts, they will ask me the toughest questions possible. They want to put me on the spot and, because I believe a certain thing, make me look like a bigot or a fool. They intentionally 

try to get me to back down off of what the Bible says.

When I’m in those interviews, my human nature wants to be liked, just like yours does. My human nature wants to compromise,divert, punt, and leave out the truth. I’ve actually heard guys being asked those questions on tv and they’ll say, “I just leave that up to God” or “Everybody has to make up their own mind.” There’s a word for that: cop-out! Those are politically correct, people-pleasing cop-outs. Those people are not standing for the truth.

In those moments, when I could say something that would be politically correct and wouldn’t offend but would be a lie, I 

remember these truths –

• First, I remember what Jesus Christ did for me on the cross. He didn’t deny me. He didn’t back down for me. He died for my sins. I owe him my life. He created me. He saved me. He forgave me. He’s taking me to Heaven. I’m not going to deny him.
• Second, I remember that one day I’m going to give an account to God. And at that point God’s going to say,“What did you say in that interview? What did you say in that conversation at work? What did you say to your friend at school?” I remember that integrity is more important than popularity. And I’m not going to give up my integrity.
• Finally, I tell the truth, and I let the chips fall.  The Bible says in Luke 9:26, “Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels” (NIV).

Talk About It

What kinds of words are you more likely to say that 

you know won’t please God?

How can you change a situation so you are more 

likely to honor God with your words?

                   *** *** *** *** ***

This devotional is based on the current Daily Hope radio series at www.rickwarren.org.

This devotional ©2013 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Dope Spoken Word Poet.....

Marshall Davis Jones

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CollectivePOW Summer 2013

Ladies of POW working out:

I attended Rhetoric with a few of the POW Ladies.  We had a blast.  The poets used their art to confront national issues.  I was deeply touched by their passion to honor women, marriage, and deal with real issues. If you would like to watch Rhetoric 2013 visit the following link:

If you would like to watch Rhetoric 2013 visit the following link:

http://p4cm.com/event/rhetoric-2013

CollectivePOW girl's night this summer :)

THE COST OF COMPROMISE

11 KING SOLOMON, HOWEVER, LOVED MANY FOREIGN WOMEN BESIDES PHARAOH’S DAUGHTER—MOABITES, AMMONITES, EDOMITES, SIDONIANS AND HITTITES. 2 THEY WERE FROM NATIONS ABOUT WHICH THE LORD HAD TOLD THE ISRAELITES, “YOU MUST NOT INTERMARRY WITH THEM, BECAUSE THEY WILL SURELY TURN YOUR HEARTS AFTER THEIR GODS.” NEVERTHELESS, SOLOMON HELD FAST TO THEM IN LOVE. 3 HE HAD SEVEN HUNDRED WIVES OF ROYAL BIRTH AND THREE HUNDRED CONCUBINES, AND HIS WIVES LED HIM ASTRAY. 4 AS SOLOMON GREW OLD, HIS WIVES TURNED HIS HEART AFTER OTHER GODS, AND HIS HEART WAS NOT FULLY DEVOTED TO THE LORD HIS GOD, AS THE HEART OF DAVID HIS FATHER HAD BEEN. 5 HE FOLLOWED ASHTORETH THE GODDESS OF THE SIDONIANS, AND MOLEK THE DETESTABLE GOD OF THE AMMONITES. 6 SO SOLOMON DID EVIL IN THE EYES OF THE LORD; HE DID NOT FOLLOW THE LORD COMPLETELY, AS DAVID HIS FATHER HAD DONE.

7 ON A HILL EAST OF JERUSALEM, SOLOMON BUILT A HIGH PLACE FOR CHEMOSH THE DETESTABLE GOD OF MOAB, AND FOR MOLEK THE DETESTABLE GOD OF THE AMMONITES. 8 HE DID THE SAME FOR ALL HIS FOREIGN WIVES, WHO BURNED INCENSE AND OFFERED SACRIFICES TO THEIR GODS.

1 KINGS 11:1-8 (NIV – NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION)

Our society nurtures a popular misconception that tolerance is the only reasonable worldview to have. But when it comes to the law of God, King Solomon’s life shows that compromise is a destructive choice.

In the early years of Solomon’s reign, he was committed to doing right. But later, when he saw the opportunity to promote himself politically, he ignored Scripture’s command forbidding marriage to pagans (Deut. 7:1-3; 1 Kings 3:1). Though he may have viewed the union as an insignificant deviation, Satan’s strategy is to convince us to compromise small portions of God’s Word, one at a time.

Solomon admired beautiful women of other nationalities, but instead of finding ways to avoid temptation, he permitted himself one relationship and then sought more and more. Surrounded by foreigners, he inevitably became involved in their religions. Eventually he was ensnared by sin, and his heart turned from God.

Solomon’s temptations may differ from ours, but accepting compromise can trap us as well. Unchecked admiration for something beyond God’s will for our life can convince us to pursue it. Though we intellectually know this choice is wrong, it’s easy to harden our heart against the Spirit’s warnings. A preoccupation can deepen until the desired object, person, or activity holds a place of greater priority than our Father. If we allow that to happen, we lose our freedom in Jesus Christ and become caught in a prison of sin. In other words, the cost of compromise is the corruption of our soul.