Author: Jfuglerwriter

March 26, 2021 Jfuglerwriter Comments Off on Why Know Jesus?

Why Know Jesus?

Has following and obeying Jesus has gotten too much press?

I’ve read a ton of books and have heard a thousand sermons that tell me how to obey Jesus. All the way from behaving Christ-like to understanding God’s will, I’ve ingested countless Biblical principles to make the Christian life work.

They accomplished their job. I learned, applied and got results. God’s Word laid it all out for me.

But I missed something. Let me explain.

If following Jesus really works, so many Christians wouldn’t be asking, “Why is my relationship with him so dull? Where’s my joy? How come I live with guilt, loneliness, discouragement, frustration, anger, discontentment, lack of faith and feel distant from God?”

In all the busyness of obeying Christ, we’ve blown past the #1 thing that Jesus wants. And that is to know him.

I contend that so many of us have overshot Jesus. And we feel distant from God.

Knowing his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was the overarching reason for Paul to live. He said, “What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:8 NIV)

As believers, we need to pursue the same passion Paul did. This is a hard-right turn from where most of us have been heading.

If you’re not into knowing Christ, delete this email and unsubscribe.

However, if you’re up for knowing Christ as Paul did, stay with me on this journey.

Why know Jesus? All of life hinges on it. Jesus leads us into a treasured relationship with him.

I look forward to sharing more in the days ahead.

In closing, I want to let you know about a community of believers who are pursing Christ together. Fresh Faith 24/7 is built around knowing him. Find out more at www.freshfaith247.com.

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!

January 10, 2021 Jfuglerwriter Comments Off on We Need Encouragement Now

We Need Encouragement Now

When we glanced at 2020 in our rear view mirror, we were thrilled to speed down the road into the new year. But we were jolted with a sad and terrifying scene at our Capitol.

It made me realize that life isn’t dictated by our calendar. We live in a fallen world, with sickness and sin reminding us of our need for a Savior.

If you know Jesus, he is your hope. I was reminded today when reading Revelation 1 that Jesus is “the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.” (v. 5 NIV) Despite what we see around us, Jesus is Lord over death and he is the King of kings. Period. That’s why we can have hope.

Even more, John proclaims in that same verse, “To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood.” That, my friend, is the greatest reason for hope in these times.

Our senses are flooded with the world’s perspective. We watch the news, read a blog, absorb social media posts, scan our favorite source for information or listen to a podcast. And you know what? Everyone is telling us how we should think.

Let’s toss those sources aside and go straight to the Word of God. Our way of thinking must line up with it. But we must know his Word first.

A good friend of mine is a walking Bible. He knows so many verses by heart and picks them out of the air whenever he needs them. His mind is shaped by the Word of God. Not by the world. I need to follow his example and ingest the Word more seriously. Memorize what God says. Meditate on it. Speak it to myself and others.

“Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

“He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.” (Ps. 1:1-3 ESV)

How refreshing! Not only should I read the Word, meditate on it and speak it, but I should delight in it. That’s the key. When I delight in it, I’m wrapped up in it. It dictates my thinking. I am satisfied by it.

I need a good stream of clean water right now, don’t you? We find it in God’s Word. Fruit and thriving leaves are the result.

Today, let’s absorb the Word of God and find our way of thinking in it.

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).

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).

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.

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.

On my back for 48 hours

I know. I’ve gone AWOL. No posts on here for weeks.

But I have a good excuse.

It all started when I pulled the grocery bag out of the car. First, let me back up a little…

Noonie and I were enjoying a short vacation at the beach. After all the Coronavirus isolation, we had decided to get out of Dodge.

Oh, it started well. Warm water, sunny days, relaxation. Then that grocery bag thing happened. As I straightened up after grabbing the bag, I felt my lower back muscle twinge. Quickly, I knew it was more than a subtle inconvenience. It slowed me down. A lot.

But that was just the beginning. The next night in the hotel room, I spotted the state mascot: a cockroach. I leaned over and my nerves exploded, running down my left leg. The pain was a 12 on a 10 scale. I called to Noonie. She thought I was going to faint. So did I. Somehow, in the excruciating pain, I managed to lay myself flat on the bed.

And that was my position for 48 hours, the beach just 100 yards away. I couldn’t do anything without pain. No raising of my head, no turning over, no ability to sit up. The muscle pull, compounded by the pinched nerve, totally incapacitated me.

Could the story get worse?

Yes.

After two days of continued pain, still flat on my back and a call to my doctor, we had to summon the paramedics to take me to the ER. It was my first ambulance ride, my first emergency room visit, and my first experience with morphine. Two doses of that finally allowed me to sit up, stand up and make it to the car for the overnight trip home.

That was a month ago and I still have lingering leg pain and a strained lower back muscle. I’ve been scanned, pricked, and shocked in the past four weeks. I’m improving, but still taking it easy.

And that’s why I haven’t posted here.

I’m grateful for all who have prayed for me. I have experienced the results of those prayers.

The other day, I finally had the opportunity to spend a half-day with God in my right mind. No meds. Mental agility back to normal. Emotionally stronger. I was ready to listen to God while I read his Word.

Through all this, God has made it clear that July wasn’t a month to forget, but a month to pivot and rejoice. My desire for the past several months has been to know Christ. But I had hoped to avoid the last phrase in this verse: “I want to know Christ–yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings.” (Philippians 3:10 NIV).

A person knows Christ in a totally unique way in suffering. I can attest to that. Jesus has walked with me through the pain of the past month.

Another prayer I’ve had in recent months is to help other believers know the Christ of the cross. My painful ordeal helps me to be more compassionate and understanding with the people the Lord brings into my life. That was a big lesson for me.

Almost everyone is experiencing pain of some kind, whether it be physical, emotional or spiritual. We’re broken people. For so long, I’ve been in great health, running three miles at a time. I’m not running for a while. Or maybe ever again.

Whatever pain you bring to the table in your Christian journey, I see you differently than I did in June. The Lord allowed me to experience pain so I can now better empathize with my brothers and sisters who join me in this journey to know Christ.

I leave you with the verse from Paul that has inspired and guided me this year: “What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.” (Philippians 3:8 NIV)

What has God taught you through pain? I feel like my pain has been minimal compared to the pain so many friends experience every day. Share your thoughts.

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 22, 2020 Jfuglerwriter Comments Off on Jesus to the Cross

Jesus to the Cross

I was running a 3-mile distance the other day. In my final mile, I felt the weariness, pain and intensity. The heat of the day had raised my body temperature, making it harder to keep pace. But I was 2/3 of the way to the finish line. My mind was focused on the end and I managed to speed up a little. I was motivated, in my pain, to make it and finish well.

In that final mile, Jesus’ journey to the cross came to my mind.

  • It was a painful journey, much more pain than I was feeling. Here’s what I was thinking as I ran that last mile:Jesus journeyed to the cross by choice. He did it for us. It was the path to the abolition of the power of sin, victory over the serpent—his road to the resurrection.
  • Even on the cross, he was the Almighty God. He was on his way to victory. He was winning, not losing. His family and followers at the foot of the cross could only see his physical suffering and death, so they wept and mourned. They had no idea he was conquering Satan as he hung on the cross.
  • The Jesus on the cross is a Jesus of infinite strength. He could have come down, but it took more strength to stay up there and complete the race. He took the sins of all mankind on himself and paid the penalty.

When an Olympic marathoner enters the stadium, taking the last lap, having given his all, often staggering across the finish line, what do we do? We look in awe. The crowd erupts in applause as the first runner enters the stadium, makes his final lap and breaks through the tape. While we’re pained by their pain, we honor them for their grueling accomplishment.

If Jesus were a mere man, he would have been helpless on the cross. But he was the Almighty God. Even on the cross, he was his full essence—King of kings, Lord of Lords, the Alpha and the Omega, Majesty. We should stand in awe.

I don’t think I’ll look at Christ on the cross the same way anymore. That run of mine changed my perspective.

The next time we consider Jesus crucified, let’s see beyond what we see with our eyes and consider the spiritual war that Jesus had won.

For he himself said, “It is finished.”

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