cancer

September 1, 2020 Jfuglerwriter 3 Comments

How Can We Know Jesus?

(NOTE: I’m feeling much better than when I last posted. Thank you to all who have been praying for me. And to those who contacted me with words of encouragement, I am grateful. My back muscles have healed. My leg is still a little numb, but getting better. Believe it or not, I joined a Herniated Disc Facebook Group! Yes, there is one. With 25,000 members).

Knowing someone on earth is one thing, but how can we know the God in heaven?

Good question.

We can’t reach out and touch Jesus. We can converse with him, but not in the way we would our spouse. I’m not one who audibly hears the voice of Jesus.

We can’t go out to dinner together. Or ride bikes. Or spend a day at the beach with each other. Or take a walk together. Discuss the day when we get home from work.

In a sense, we can, but I think you know what I mean. Knowing Jesus is a whole different concept and needs a different approach than getting to know your kids or friends.

Let’s go back to Philippians 3:8: “What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” (NIV)

I did a word study on knowing. I wanted to know what it meant, I guess. (Chuckle). It was fascinating. I learned that the word means to “experientially know.”

Aha. I had made a breakthrough. Knowing Jesus like Paul knew Jesus isn’t about facts. It’s about experience. Head vs. heart. Intellect vs. living.

The word study also revealed that it was a knowledge gleaned from first-hand (personal) experience. In other words, I can’t know Jesus vicariously through my pastor. Indeed, I can listen to the most inspiring sermon about Jesus, but that doesn’t replace knowing him first-hand.

Knowing Jesus is experiencing Jesus. And experience comes from time spent with him. A minute ago I said that knowing Jesus is nothing like knowing a friend or spouse. At the core, however, it is. We just have to go through a different process to know our Savior.

Experiencing Jesus happens in some of the darkest and challenging times of our lives. My wife’s battle with cancer turned into a season of knowing Jesus. We came to the throne of grace over and over again, standing in the presence of our Lord. Personally, I spent many stretches of time pouring my heart out to Jesus, in tears at times. Then I soaked in his love, peace, care and strength. Cancer season brought me closer to Jesus. I felt I knew him well.

My recent pain-filled experience on my back was a knowing Jesus opportunity. It drew me closer to my Savior.

Knowing Jesus doesn’t always have to come in trial. God never meant it to be that way. He wants to know us daily. A close friendship experiences highs and lows together, but mostly the normal in-between seasons. You do life together, enjoying each other.

Jesus desires that we come to know him in all seasons, not only when we face the hard times. We need our Savior every day.

Pursue him desperately. Today.

June 26, 2019 Jfuglerwriter Comments Off on Presence

Presence

Never underestimate your presence. I witnessed this truth several times when my wife was sick with cancer.

When the after-effects of the chemo treatments arrived, she spent much of her time quietly resting. Our Lazy Boy chair that became her best friend while our little dog Biscuit kept her company cuddled in her lap.

I remember many times, in the quiet of the afternoon, the doorbell would ring. Someone was bringing a meal or coming to visit. They weren’t sure how my wife was feeling or how long to stay.

Once they walked into the room, Noonie lit up. It was an absolute sudden transition. This quiet, resting woman was a bright, cheerful person. Sometimes she would get out of the chair and begin the hosting role. It was an amazing sight for me.

You see, just showing up can make a person’s day. This doesn’t work for everyone, but it works for many.

People need people. Whether they have a serious disease or they’re lonely and discouraged, stopping by can change your friend’s life. Occasional visitors helped carry my wife through her tough season. We all want to know someone cares.

One of my favorite Bible verses is this: “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up.” (I Thessalonians 5:11 ESV) We read it and ask, “How?”

You don’t have to do much. Your presence is the key to it all. Just be there. Show up. Make a call. Send a text. Write an email. Mail a card.

When you walk in the door, you bring Jesus. He lives in you and through you. His Spirit can brighten a heart, comfort the hurting, lift a depressed soul or even turn a life around. God wants to use you.

“You are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:14 NIV)

Never underestimate your presence.

Who needs your presence today?

(From my upcoming devotional Your Life With God: 30 Days of Encouragement. Look for it on Amazon).

October 23, 2018 Jfuglerwriter Comments Off on Faith and Fear

Faith and Fear

“Fear not, for I am with you.” (Isaiah 41:10 ESV)

My wife and I were at a crossroads two years ago that defined our faith.

She was diagnosed with cancer. The word itself can send chills up and down your spine. It stops you in your tracks. It puts life on hold.

Fear tried to show up, as it often does when cancer strikes. If you’ve been there, you know what I mean.

Miraculously, God spared us from fear. I can’t explain it. I can’t say our faith was so well grounded it couldn’t be shaken by the news of cancer. However, I do know that was part of the reason.

So you don’t assume we are some super-faith couple, I will tell you we experienced many other hard emotions. Like trauma, discouragement, heartache and sorrow. Thankfully not all at once!

We had a choice. Would we let God into our experience, or would we bear cancer on our own?

We invited God to walk with us. We experienced his presence through his Holy Spirit, the Bible, each other and hundreds of other friends. We were not alone.

Cancer isn’t the only thing that can bring fear into our lives. I could list a dozen other things and so could you.

Fear paralyzes our faith. Other than unforgiveness, I can’t think of anything that puts an instant deep-freeze on our faith.

Why is that?

Fear is most often tied to the unknown. My wife and I had never done cancer before, so as we walked through it, we rarely knew what was next.

Your teenager is out with the car at night. You fear what could happen out on the road. When he pulls into the driveway, there’s immediate relief.

Things are unstable at work and many co-workers have been laid off. Could you be next? How will you provide for your family? Where will the next job come from? An unknown future can cause fear.

The doctor ran tests and you won’t get the results for three days. Those three days can be agonizing if you let fear take over. It’s hard not to!

The key to chasing out fear is to invite Jesus into your experience. Then your faith can thrive. It’s the only way.

Jesus himself said, “I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20 ESV)

He comes into our situation with his perfect love. Then we experience this truth: “Perfect love casts out fear.” (I John 4:18 ESV) God is The Perfect Love that expels fear from our life.

When you live in God’s perfect love, there’s no room for fear.

The darkest, most fearful experiences don’t have to be absent the love of Christ. He will banish your fear.

Invite Jesus into your fears. Please don’t go down this road without him.

(From my upcoming devotional, Your Life With God: 30 Days of Faith. Releasing January 1.)

Scroll to top