coronavirus

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).

September 17, 2020 Jfuglerwriter 1 Comment

Fresh Faith 24/7

Do you have more time on your hands as Coronavirus season continues?

Some people do, but others are busier than ever. We’re surrounded by families with young kids. You bet the parents are going crazy with the kids home all the time. Thankfully, a few of them are back at school.

Being grounded the past few months has helped me develop a new rhythm and pace. You might relate to that. With travel off my schedule, it’s given me more time to reflect on a lot of things, including my relationship with God.

My life has slowed down, and that’s good. I’m getting to know Jesus more deeply in a study of John, digging deeper and asking some hard questions.

The Lord has also given me time to take a longer look at life. My vision is to help a million believers know the Christ of the cross. This quest has bubbled up in me for the past several months. It will come to a significant point in late fall with the birth of Fresh Faith 24/7, a place where believers can come to experience a relationship with Jesus that will cause their faith to soar.

Where do you find fresh faith? A tougher question is this: Where do you find fresh faith in this crazy world today?

Jesus calls us into intimacy with him. He is our only source of fresh faith.

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: ‘For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35-39 NIV)

Our love relationship with Jesus conquers all these things that Paul lists.

If hardship is hitting you, run into the arms of Jesus. He loves you.

If financial stress has you discouraged, run into the arms of Jesus. He loves you.

If your faith has run into a dry spell, run into the arms of Jesus. He loves you.

If you’re oppressed by conflict, run into the arms of Jesus. He loves you.

If pain is pulling you down, run into the arms of Jesus. He loves you.

One thing is certain. Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. While dark things drain our faith, Jesus restores it.

Fresh faith is found in the intimacy of your love relationship with him. 24/7.

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.

May 2, 2020 Jfuglerwriter 3 Comments

Light of the World

Most of us have been “sent to our room,” except for the occasional trips to the store or a walk around the neighborhood. We’re pent up, longing to eat at a restaurant instead of claiming a take-out meal in a bag or box.

If we think we have it tough, people in one Asian country have been starving. Their leaders suddenly declared a strict lockdown. All work ceased. Citizens are being beaten when they break the curfew.

In one European nation, you have to text a number for government permission to go grocery shopping or visit the doctor.

And on another continent, the country’s lockdown dictates that people can’t walk outside for exercise and fresh air. Indoors means indoors.

This is wearing on us. It’s oppressive, depressing. Fear and frustration have risen to the surface. There’s no escape.

With churches closed, it raises the discouragement level among believers. We’re realize how much we need each other. Zoom services don’t quite meet that need.

It feels dark these days.

In reality, we’ve lived in a dark world all our lives. Sin has been all around us. The current global situation only makes things feel darker.

This is the time we need to believe Jesus when he says, “I am the light of the world.” (John 8:12 NIV) It was true 2,000 years ago, and it’s true today.

He goes on to say, “Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

When we follow Jesus, we come alive. Our spirit is renewed. This renewal filters into our heart, emotions and entire being. Our outlook changes. We are filled with hope, because Jesus is hope. He is a supernatural God who imparts life into us through his Holy Spirit.

When we follow online news feeds and TV anchors and commentators, we’re letting the darkness of this world fill our minds. When our conversations always center on the latest bad news about the Coronavirus, we’re dragged into the fog.

Soon, we will be free from the strict limitations. We will come through the pandemic.

But, until that happens, will you spend an entire day in the light? Schedule a retreat with Jesus, pouring over the Word of God and praying. Have a getaway with your Savior. Be energized by the light. Be renewed.

That’s what Michael has discovered. He texted me, “I’m finding that God is answering my prayer to get back to spiritual growth. It just took a global pandemic to keep me home for weeks on end. I have a burning desire for knowledge of him.”

Follow Jesus. He is the light of life.

(Here’s a video I watched over and over again the other day. I know you’ll be encouraged).

April 23, 2020 Jfuglerwriter 1 Comment

How are You Doing?

When someone asks how we’re doing during the continued lockdown, we might say “fine” but really mean frustrated. As Christians, we’re supposed to keep a stiff upper lip and quote all the right verses, like “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10 NIV)

In reality, we might really feel like saying, “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?” (Psalm 43:5 NIV)

As the Corona crisis drags on, God continues to get our attention. If we are feeling discouraged, cold, fearful, anxious or uncertain, it’s the right time to run to Jesus. Pain has a way of showing us our helplessness. We can’t fix ourselves. And this is where we’re living right now.

What does God want to change in your life? Are you willing to let him?

God’s Word is filled with treasures for you at this time. Pour over chapters and passages, seeking God in it all. He’s there. It’s his living Word.

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12 NIV)

God might want to do some character surgery on you, working in your soul, spirit, thoughts, attitudes and heart. And that takes time. However, when you emerge, you’ll feel brand new. You will have been pressed on by God himself.

When this season comes to a close, I want to be a different person. I want God to have worked permanent change in my heart through his Word. His living Word. I know I have to spend hours in my Bible for that to happen. It’s my choice.

Have you had a mini-retreat with God since the lockdown began? There are a lot of good things you can do with your time, but none better than being with Jesus and in his Word.

Soon, we will emerge on the other side of the Corona crisis. You still have time to invest in your most important relationship before the rushed life resumes. Don’t miss this opportunity.

I’d love to hear what God is showing or teaching you these days? Comment here or email me at jon@yourlifewithgod.com.

Take time to download my new book so you can maximize your time with God. There are five experiences inside that will help draw you closer to Jesus. Download it at www.GetFreshFaith.com. And share the link with your friends.

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).

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