BETTER THAN SUGAR

BETTER THAN SUGAR

By Dwight Cunkle

Oh Taste, and See that the Lord is good

We know sugar is addictive, yet the more we have of it the more we crave, unless we get sick. On the other hand, when we decrease our intake of it we become more healthy and our craving decreases. "Desire begets desire." The more we want something the stronger our "wanter" wants it.  The Psalmist sang, "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." How can we delight in God? Prayer and meditating in His word is a good beginning. Why Pray? The more you pray the more you will pray. The more we "will for God to pray in us" the more He becomes prayer in us; the more we will pray.

A highpoint of the week is our Wednesday 7PM prayer time together: quietly waiting on God, worshipping, listening, then prayer begins to rise in us and we become more aware that God lives in us and is praying through us-effortless words or quiet singing meditations flow from our spirits-God breathes in our souls and we rise together in his presence. We become His house of prayer and feel the good effect of His will both within us and his will being effected in the earth through us as we make our petitions known with the help of His Spirit.

It’s not that we love prayer. We are learning to love Him. It's not that we are mighty or skilled intercessors. We love this time because it is for Him and in Him. It is not about us. It is not even so much about prayer or needs, although He helps us know what needs prayer and how to pray. We want to know and love Him more than just have a good meeting.  

Body ministry prayer for one another often flows without strain. Words of knowledge and prophetic prayers simply come, birthed in God's love and comfort to encourage weary hearts. But whatever good comes in any time of prayer it is the sweet gift of our God. So let us seek Him. Ask his grace to draw your heart after him and enable you to pray.

Be prayer not just try to do prayer. Let him pray in you, not just active and vocal, but also heart prayer and wordless contemplation of Him. Let his praise be in your mouth always as a good taste-wanting more all the time. But also be in awe; be still; rest and know that He is God-not only in heaven but in you.

Psalm 34:4 

4 I will bless the Lord at all times;

    his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

I sought the Lord, and he answered me 

and delivered me from all my fears.

8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!

    Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

9 Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints,

    for those who fear him have no lack!

10 The young lions suffer want and hunger;

    but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

BE AWARE, UNDERSTAND, TAKE ACTION (part three)

BE AWARE, UNDERSTAND, TAKE ACTION (part three)

by Dwight Cunkle

Though a son he learned obedience through suffering, offering up prayers with loud cries and crying...heard because of his reverence, he became the Source for all who obey him. Heb 5:8

     Thank God for nurses and Dr’s and medical technology! Yet it can be overwhelming to have to depend on others, and on medicines and equipment, while feeling pretty helpless, especially in the sterile, unfamiliar setting of hospital or emergency room. Plus the expense and impatience of wanting to get better or still be productive increases anxiety. God designed our bodies with great natural healing properties and sometimes the good that modern medicine tries to do is actually harmful. The bottom line is Jesus is our health, period!

My lemonade Sucks
When my life sucks I have choices: My tendency is to suck it up (get my focus off what is going on and try to make lemonade out of the lemons). Right now even my lemonade sucks! What I really need is to let go-not try to fix things but surrender my need to control to God who is actually in control. Even while sometimes telling him how sucky all this is, I can choose to humble myself before him and resist the devil and all his tactics, and grow in Christ. This is a moment to moment grace gift.!!

I can exchange desolations for consolations at the cross

When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul. 

(Psalms 94:19 NASB)        

     Two weeks ago I contrasted spiritual consolations and desolations. Our enemies, the world, the flesh and the devil, have various tactics like using natural things which are difficult in life, to try and move us away from God.
     But trials  can also lead us into spiritual consolations which uplift us toward God in faith, hope and love, in the present moment! In other words we can mature in union and closeness with God as we exchange negative thoughts and feelings at the cross for His grace and love, even crying out to God as Jesus did in the days of his earthly sufferings. In a recent sermon, we looked at how feelings make good indicators but lousy leaders.
     Last week Arch Bishop Sean Larkin reminded us how Jesus is always walking with us, waiting to reveal himself. He is present to you in whatever you face.

Enjoy your lemonade.