faith

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!

October 15, 2020 Jfuglerwriter 1 Comment

Courage to Keep Going

How’s this for a life of obedience to Christ? “Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea.” (2 Corinthians 11:25 NIV)

Beaten, stoned and shipwrecked. Such was the life of Paul, constantly suffering for his faith.

But wait. There’s more!

“I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.” (2 Corinthians 11:26-27 NIV)

The other apostles weren’t immune from suffering for their faith either. It was a normal part of their lives. They were detested by Jewish leaders, often hated by the Romans and rejected by the Gentiles. Almost every one of the apostles died as a martyr for his faith.

I’m humbled to the core when I ponder that my own conversion is traced back to the apostles. If it weren’t for their tenacity and endurance, the church wouldn’t have blossomed. Since then, the Christian faith has spread for centuries because courageous believers have told non-believers about Jesus.

How can you have the courage of the apostles? Not only to represent Jesus, but to simply keep going when life has a strangle-hold on you? When discouragement hits? When resistance and hardship press in from all sides? When Coronavirus season keeps wears you down?

Every believer has seasons of strength and weakness, joy and heartache, ease and difficulty. None of us lives each day on the pinnacle of spiritual bliss. 

The apostles possessed unshakeable courage. It gave them boldness to stand for Christ all the way to their martyred deaths. Most likely, you won’t face such a brutal ending as theirs, but you can learn from these faithful followers. How did they courageously move forward in their faith walk?

Paul describes their secret: “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16 NIV)

They did not lose heart. Their courage wasn’t crushed. They may have looked like they were empty, but not so inside.

Here’s the zinger: “Yet inwardly we are being renewed every day.” That’s why the apostles could stand courageously in a world of intense persecution. They were made new by God in the depths of their souls.

It all came back to Jesus. Deeply rooted in their Savior, they endured the terrible, constant opposition to their faith. No cowering for these men. They spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to all the world.

Just as the Holy Spirit renewed the apostles, he is renewing you.

Whatever you’re facing, courage to keep going starts with an inner renewal when you turn to Jesus. His Holy Spirit will do the miraculous in you.

(Explore courage in my devotional Your Life With God: 30 Days of Courage. That’s where this post was born. Available on Amazon).

March 6, 2019 Jfuglerwriter Comments Off on Prayer and Faith

Prayer and Faith

(My new devotional has just released, Your Life With God: 30 Days of Incredible Prayer. May God use it to change lives, perhaps yours. This post is an excerpt from the devo).

Do we pray because we have faith, or do we have faith because we pray? That might be too much of a mind-twister if you’re reading this before your morning coffee.

Imagine being the father in Mark 9 whose son was demon-possessed. Things were so severe that since childhood the demon had harassed the boy, even throwing him often into the fire. This dad lived in complete horror I’m sure, watching his self-destructive son act out for years. Any bit of faith had to be gone.

Enter Jesus. He interviews the father about his son, and in an instant, commands the demon to leave the boy. The demon violently exits and leaves the boy lying there like a corpse. Jesus then takes him by the hand and brings the boy to his feet.

At that moment, the father was caught between two worlds, faith and no-faith. He shouted to Jesus, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

That’s a confusing statement. I’m sure this dad was so beside himself he didn’t really know what he believed. After seeing Jesus do the miracle and his son returning to a normal life, his faith was a mile high. That’s what I call “adrenaline faith.” He saw Jesus do a miracle and it carried his faith to a new level — temporarily I’m sure.

Adrenaline faith doesn’t last long. It depends on seeing God work. We go from blessing to blessing and our faith follows. It’s a tough way to live.

We really want deep, steady faith. Instead of being tied to God’s blessings, it’s tied to God himself. Rather it being an experience connected to God’s workings, it’s about experiencing God himself.

That comes by spending time with God. And that’s what prayer is all about. You and God enjoying each other. You speak to him and then listen as he speaks to your heart.

The Holy Spirit strengthens your relationship with God as you develop a habit of prayer. Your faith grows. Instead of a mile high like the dad, a mile deep. Your faith will be well-rooted.

Let’s go back to my opening question, “Do we pray because we have faith, or do we have faith because we pray?” The answer is, “Yes.”

It’s a cycle. Your faith feeds your prayer life. Your prayer life feeds your faith. It’s far from the adrenaline faith the dad was experiencing. Your faith will be deeply rooted because you’re spending time with God.

A benefit of your prayer life is that you’ll see God answer your prayers. That will also grow your faith. But, rather than it being one dramatic instance, you’ll see God work consistently.

Try it. Go to God. Pray. Watch him work. In your heart and around you.

Available on Amazon.
Scroll to top