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March 6, 2021 Jfuglerwriter Comments Off on Join me inside!

Join me inside!

I’ve got some exciting news! I’ve been dying to tell you about it. So here we are on Saturday morning, and it’s time for the announcement.

First, as a way of background, I’ve been wrapped up lately in the wonderful truth that Jesus is the Good Shepherd. (John 10) That’s just one of the identities of Jesus that I’ve been exploring. Now, I’m exploring it with other believers inside a brand new community I’ve created.

[DRUM ROLL] After nearly a year of prayer, writing, video recording and website development, FRESH FAITH 24/7 is now open! And I need your help. Will you try out this new membership community for 30 days? At no cost to you. Kick the tires, use it as much as you want, break it and simply let me know what you think. You’ll be one of my BETA members.

Here’s where to sign up: www.freshfaith247.com. Once you sign up, I’ve got step by step instructions inside on how to get the most out of FRESH FAITH 24/7.

You’ve been following my writing for a while, so I thought you’d be interested in checking it out.

I’d like to see 100 believers jump in and try it out. I’m just getting started. You’ll be helping me make it better as each week goes by. And I do believe it will make a difference in your walk with Christ.

On my desk, I have a piece of paper that reminds me that my goal is “to help 1 million believers know the Christ of the cross.” That’s what my devotionals are all about. That’s what my blog posts are all about. And now, in 3-D, that’s what FRESH FAITH 24/7 is all about.

If you are looking for a place where you can pursue Jesus, know him in a more intimate way than ever, and have your life changed, please join me and other BETA members inside FRESH FAITH 24/7.

Here’s what you can expect inside:

(1) Refresh your walk with Christ with the dozens of video devotionals I’ve created, (2) Engage with a growing community of believers who build each other up, and, (3) Twice a week, enjoy a live 10-minute devotion to start your day. In fact, the next one is Monday morning.

All the details are on the website, where you can sign up for a 30-day trial at no cost. This is where I will be pouring my time and effort in the days ahead.

Check it out here:

www.freshfaith247.com

Have a great day and let me know what you think. Thank you so much!

November 26, 2020 Jfuglerwriter Comments Off on Corona Lessons from Joseph

Corona Lessons from Joseph

   “Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined.” (Genesis 39:20 NIV)

   We’ve all had bad days, but probably not as bad as Joseph’s bad days. He had a lot of them. First, his conniving brothers sold him into slavery. Many bad servant days followed. When he had earned favor and a better position, Joseph was unjustly thrown in prison for fending off his boss’s wife. More bad days ahead.

   I’d be ticked. Downright discouraged. I’d feel sorry for myself.

   God drew me to Joseph’s story in my quest to discover how to respond to Corona season. As usual, I started with a question, “What did Joseph do while he was in prison?”

   He prepared for whatever God would have for him. And he didn’t know what that would be.

   He lived by faith in a faithful God. He must have, for the Lord used him to lead while he was in prison. “The warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there.” (Genesis 39:22 NIV)

   Joseph remained true to God. He developed character in prison. When he was released, he was put in charge of the whole land of Egypt. That’s quite a promotion.

   Coronavirus feels like a prison. We’re restricted physically. Masks, limited size gatherings, spacing in restaurants and grocery lines, reduced travel, smaller church services – or none at all.

   The prison has taken its emotional and psychological toll on us. We were created by God to be with people. Isolation brings pain. Following restrictive rule upon rule pulls us down. The atmosphere of fear seeps in, despite our best biblical perspective. 

   But Coronavirus has not put us in spiritual prison. We have Jesus, who is our key that unlocks the prison door. If we thrive in spiritual freedom, we will conquer the virus’ best attempts to lock us away.

   That’s what Joseph discovered. He was a free man inside the depressing dungeon. Certainly, he wasn’t a happy man inside those walls, but somehow he drew on the Lord’s power and perspective to come out a healthier man than when he went in.

   I learned a lot from Joseph.

   Be open and seek to embrace what God wants to teach you. Remember that we’re here to advance HIS Kingdom and not yours. Joseph perceived and knew that he had a role in God’s greater Kingdom plan. I’m sure he influenced the prisoners and guards around him.

   Live purposefully and joyfully in Christ. Joseph didn’t have Jesus. We do! You have a personal relationship with the living God. Don’t be sucked in by the world and its attitudes, fears, hopelessness, hatred and finality. Think eternally.

   Stop complaining. We’re just like the rest of society when we fall into the trap of complaining. Barking about all the restrictions and inconveniences pulls us down the rabbit hole. Life looks miserable. We lose sight of God. Self-centeredness is our companion. And we’re a crab.

   Certainly, Joseph wasn’t a complainer. Perhaps at first, but for the most part, he got over it. He must have, or he would not have been able to emerge as the strong man of God that he was. He leaned into the Lord in prison. By the grace of God – with no fellowship, travel, fine food, or any liberties at all – he found freedom in his relationship with the Lord. Your freedoms have hardly been ripped away compared to Joseph’s. Get over it and see God’s purposes.

   See that people are open spiritually. They are seeking. They’re doing it in public and in private. Joseph was faithful to his God. Imagine the prisoners that came and went. For some, it was their last stop before death. You bet they were open spiritually. Joseph had hope and they saw it. We have the hope of Christ for a scared, seeking world.

   Prepare for the future. Joseph had no idea where or when his next assignment would be. In fact, he may have thought prison was his final destination, forgotten forever. Yet, he kept feeding his faith. He had plenty of time to recount how God saved the Israelites and how he proved faithful to him over the years.

   You and I must prepare for the future, too. When will we get out of Coronavirus prison? No one knows, but we better be ready to reach out for Jesus when the door is open. And, like Joseph, maximize the now. Reach out to the Lord now. Be Jesus to the other inmates (who, for you, is everyone).

   You have all the tools in the world to prepare for the future as you live in this training ground called Coronavirus prison.

   Read your Bible. Study it. Go deep. You have time.

   Pray often. For long periods. Get to know Jesus at a deeper level.

   Understand what God is teaching you through hardship. In addition to the general situation, you might be confronted with financial stress or disaster, family problems or a health issue. In the middle of Coronavirus, I had a major accident that battered me physically and emotionally for weeks. I was a mess, yet God lifted me out of it. I learned a lot through it and wrote it down. I encourage you to do the same.

   Spend time reading the full story of Joseph in Genesis 37-47. Prison was just one of his calamities of life. Remember, he was a slave, too. You probably haven’t been that route. As you read, you’ll be inspired by this man of God and how he was faithful to the Lord in the hardest of times. His story is a tear-jerker, including an emotional crescendo involving his entire family.

   There are lessons galore we can learn from Joseph, ones we can apply during Coronavirus season. Instead of rejecting these lessons, embrace them. Seek them. Look for God in this season. And respond as his man or woman. He will prepare you for even greater lessons in the future. Most of all, your relationship with Jesus will be more vibrant than ever.

(From my new book Corona Season Continues: A Christian Response to the Pandemic. Available on Amazon).

July 5, 2020 Jfuglerwriter Comments Off on Thirsting for God

Thirsting for God

“I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you.” (Psalm 63:1 NIV)

Knowing Jesus isn’t an activity. It is a state of being. In this Psalm, David’s physical setting reminds him of his spiritual setting. He’s in the desert of Judah, “a dry and parched land where there is no water.” (v. 1b)

He looks around him. Desolation. He looks inside. Desolation. In his thirstful desperation, he says that his whole being longs for God.

Have you ever gone so long without water that your mind and body dissipated? Maybe just the other day in the heat of summer. The further you drift into that state, the more helpless you feel. And when you realize you don’t have a water source nearby, panic starts to set in.

I used to live in Colorado Springs, well over a mile-high elevation. The altitude and dryness sucked the water right out of my body. Pouring bottles of water down my throat was necessary for survival.

If I went without my H2O, it would take just minutes for the effects to set in. First, my mental sharpness and concentration would begin to fail. Then I’d feel achy. Before I knew it, I was becoming dehydrated. My attitude would change, too. I’d be cranky. All because I wasn’t hydrated.

Finally, when I’d remembered to grab a drink of water, I’d guzzle down two or three glasses out of the tap (the water in Colorado is delicious). Slowly, my senses would return. My mind and body would return to normal.

God gave us physical thirst to remind us how much we need him.

Just like we can’t take a sip of water here and there in the desert, we can’t take a sip of Jesus on occasion. We need to be all in and satisfy our thirst for Jesus always.

We must constantly come to the well. Come to Jesus, your Living Water.

The more you do, the more you will know him.

You thirst. You thirst for God. You thirst for God with a longing soul. Those are facts. Wonderful facts. Recognize why you’re thirsting and dive into a precious, loving encounter with Jesus. Today. Tomorrow. The next day.

Read Psalm 63:1-8. Think about each verse. Picture David speaking to God. Imagine him being in the desert of Judah as a visual reminder of his thirsty soul. Put yourself in his sandals. And cry out to God with your longing, thirsty soul.

June 3, 2020 Jfuglerwriter 1 Comment

Where Does Christ Fit In? Where Do You Fit In?

If you have a pulse, you’ve been affected emotionally by what has gone on the past several days in our country. I can’t think of one positive emotion.

Anger. Fear. Heartache. Discouragement. Hopelessness. Uncertainty. Confusion. Just a few that come to mind.

Flooding the hearts and souls of believers and non-believers, these painful emotions are crushing.

This week, I’ve found it hard to concentrate when I read my Bible. I pray but my mind drifts. Can you relate?

When we see upheaval all day and night on the news, it dominates our thinking. From the initial, graphic videos of George Floyd to the destruction of our cities, the terror captures our hearts.

If our faith in Christ is to be real, now is the time. Our relationship with the Savior is tested in turmoil. Will we look like the world or look like Jesus? Will we take sides and shout? Or stand in the center, side-by-side with Jesus who offers hope, peace, love, grace and life-transformation?

We should be driven to our knees in prayer. A desperation that makes us cling to Jesus, not expressed in hostile thoughts, words or actions.

My life is dedicated to helping 1 million believers know the Christ of the cross.

Not knowing about. But knowing him intimately. It starts with me. How well do I really know my Savior? Crises like this make me ask that question. It’s easy to be a believer when everything is fine. But how about now, when the nation seems to be crumbling?

Am I seeking more news to feed a craving? Or am I so moved I cannot get enough of Jesus? I’m afraid I’m somewhere in between, and certainly not pursuing Christ like I should.

God is watching how we respond. First, how we respond to him. Then, how we respond to others. How do our conversations with the Lord go? And when we’re with friends and family, what do we say to them?

Two hours ago, a friend tweeted a verse that opened my eyes. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9 NIV)

I have to admit, I’m not sure how well I am reflecting Christ. If my relationship with Jesus is deep, the evidence will be clear. The fruit of the Spirit will sprout for all to see. How much is evident in your life?

  • Love
  • Joy
  • Peace
  • Patience
  • Kindness
  • Goodness
  • Gentleness
  • Self-control

I can’t tell you how to live out your relationship with Christ in this upheaval, on the heels of the Coronavirus.

But I do know God has our attention and wants us to do business with him. Each one. Personally. And as a church.

April 8, 2020 Jfuglerwriter Comments Off on Good News in Trying Times

Good News in Trying Times

I’m no theologian, but my ears perked up this morning when I read the final chapter of 2 Peter. Here’s one gem of a verse:

“In keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.” (2 Peter 2:13 NIV)

I read that verse as I was sitting on my back deck surrounded by gigantic North Carolina trees. I looked up and saw the beauty of God’s creation. I looked down and re-read the words “new earth.” All I could think was that this is a taste of what God’s new earth will look like when all is said and done.

And I’ll get to live in it!

The absolute beauty of the new earth is something beyond my imagination, but that will be my residence. I can’t wait.

In this season of global crisis, we need to go straight to God’s Word to soak in his truths. When we do, our hearts and minds rise above the circumstances. Even dire ones like we are in now.

Here’s what we can look forward to . . .

All sin, destruction, pain, death, sorrow, hatred and conflict will be gone. The new earth will have none of that. Instead, we’ll enjoy the fullness of Father, the presence of Jesus, the fullness of the Holy Spirit, the marvelous beauty of God’s creation, green trees, vast oceans, crystal clear skies, majestic mountains and whatever else God throws in.

The colors will be perfect, the smells ideal, the sights awesome. And relationships? Every one of them will be perfect. Rich. Satisfying. We will enjoy this new earth in every way.

Righteousness will dwell in the new heaven and new earth. Whether I’ll commute between the two, I’m not sure. Righteousness will fill it.

A lot has been written about the new heaven and new earth. You should read up on it. Of course, you’ll read a variety of opinions, so the Bible is the place to go to get a taste of what God has in store for you. You don’t have to know all the details. You’ll marvel with just a taste.

I hope this encourages you in these trying times.

(My new book is available: FRESH FAITH: Leaning on God in the Corona Crisis. It’s Free. You can get it HERE.

March 16, 2020 Jfuglerwriter 2 Comments

Coronavirus: A believer’s response

The Coronavirus pandemic has rocked our world. Not just the globe, but our personal lives. Everyone is talking about it. Opinions are flying everywhere. Fear has nations in its grip.

As believers, how are we supposed to respond? Our faith is certainly put to the test. If we believe God is sovereign, ruler of everything (including the Coronavirus), fear shouldn’t even be in our vocabulary. But, for many Christians, it is.

That’s easy to understand. Wherever we turn, news of the Coronavirus pops up. Every third email is about the Coronavirus, sent by my bank, airlines, department stores, my church, hotel chains and my financial advisor.

Our emotions are frayed. On the outside, we appear calm, but our intense discussions say otherwise. In all of this, we might find it hard to shut out the world and open our hearts to Jesus.

Everyone is talking about the Coronavirus.

And so is God.

He has been talking about it for centuries. It may have been under a different name, but this crisis is not new to him. Imagine the lepers of the New Testament, the Bubonic Plague centuries ago and Ebola that is wreaking havoc in Africa. The Swine Flu over a decade ago. And there are other earth-shattering crises I could name.

God has been speaking about calamities since the beginning of time. These upheavals get our attention. And the attention of the world.

God’s timeless words reach us in the pandemonium of the pandemic. Jesus said, “ Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28 NIV)

The early church was encouraged by the Apostle Paul, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6 NIV)

For the first time in my memory of 60 years, our world has come to a halt. It won’t be for a day, or a week, but it could be for months. Who knows?

Your social life is on hold. Your church life, too. And any sports or cultural events on your schedule are cleared out. Trips you’ve planned are likely pushed back indefinitely. Schools are closed. Workplaces are resorting to remote officing.

I just had a conference postponed, as well as an international visit from a colleague. We’ll meet by Zoom.

Life is at a crawl. This is a serious thing for many businesses. My son works for an airline. That industry has been quickly crushed. Your own work situation might be tentative.

In the midst of this crisis comes opportunity. You now have the time to spend with God. Your schedule has opened up in a way it may never have before and may never open up in the future. The blocks of time you had set aside for events, trips, gatherings and other activities are now wide open.

John Piper wrote a book over a decade ago called Don’t Waste Your Life. A few years later, he came down with cancer. His pulpit message soon after was, “Don’t waste your cancer.” His message was that everything in our lives can be used for God’s glory.  Even bad things.

Let’s not waste the Coronavirus. This evil disease will not beat us, but it is a trigger to get our relationship right with God. We can experience a renewed intimacy with the Lord, going deeper than we ever have. Not for temporary results, but lifelong.

(Taken from my new book, Fresh Faith: Leaning on God in the Corona Crisis. Available NOW. Free).

December 26, 2018 Jfuglerwriter Comments Off on Christmas Every Day

Christmas Every Day

We make a lot of Christmas each year, but for believers we celebrate the King every day. At least we should.

As you look back at Christmas, are you leaving Jesus in the manger? Think about how you can honor him as King in the year ahead. First of all, giving him your best time is a great way. Start the day with God, spending time with our Savior and allowing the Holy Spirit to work in your heart.

I’m finishing up a year-long study in Luke that I had thought would take three months. I’m racing to complete the final chapter by New Year’s Eve. I think I’m going to make it.

he point is this. Instead of rushing through the book and the study guides, I took as much time as God wanted me to. He had a lot to say to me this year through Luke. Giving Jesus time was a way I honored him as King. And I’ve enjoyed being with him each morning.

I’ve made my choice for 2019 and how I’ll start every day with God. I’m planning to explore prayer. Who knows how long it will take? I have 12 lessons in the study guide I’m using. It could take 12 weeks. Or 12 months! The guide is just a guide. I let God work in my heart free-form.

How will you honor Jesus as King in 2019? Our Savior went from the manger to the cross in 33 years. He did that for us. And when he rose again, he declared is rule of over all. Sin, death, Satan — everything. Let’s give him honor throughout the year ahead.

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