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!

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.

August 4, 2020 Jfuglerwriter 2 Comments

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.

May 22, 2020 Jfuglerwriter Comments Off on Out of Step

Out of Step

Have you ever had one of those days where you felt out of step? Things just weren’t quite right. You were a little “off,” reacting instead of taking the initiative on things. Overall, you were “blah.”

I feel one of those days coming on today. It’s just the beginning of the day and I’m not walking on solid ground. I started with my devotions, but they were interrupted. The time was cut short and I never settled into deep fellowship with the Father. I read Scripture, studied it, but had to pick up and leave for work before the Word of God deeply penetrated my heart.

Maybe that’s the key. If we are a little off in the day, we can look back at how we started. Was that time with God rushed and shallow? Were we too interested in getting something done instead of settling in with the Lord?

I confess that this morning, before my devotions, I spent 10 minutes adjusting the sprinklers in my lawn. You’d think that’s no big deal, but it stole precious time with God. On top of that, it occupied my mind as dawn arrived.

Settling in with God. The sound of that feels comforting and right. Unrushed. Listening to the Lord. Reading his Word. Praying. Not cutting it off early. Perhaps God wants you to spend an extra 10 minutes with him. Those 10 minutes could be soul refreshment. It could be the time you need so you don’t feel “off” that day. I needed it today.

Jesus is our anchor, our rock, refuge, fortress. Starting the day immersed in him is the steadiness we’re seeking. The Bible says, “Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:34 NIV) When our minds are occupied by the cares of life, we can’t walk with confidence. When we’re grounded in Christ, we know where our confidence is. We know we’re right with God. And when that happens, nothing can push us around.

Set your feet upon the rock today. As for me, I need to go back and get alone with God. Almost like a do-over. That might not be possible for you. So I recommend finding Scripture you can think about during the day. Write it down. Post it where you’ll see it. Read it. Pray through it. Quick prayers in the middle of a hectic day will bring you back to your Savior. And he is your rock. (1 Corinthians 10:4)

I have to remind myself that I live for the Lord, not for me, my organization, my dreams and goals, not even for my family. When I live for the Lord, my loyalties fall in place so I serve my company, goals, dreams and family even better.

It’s a matter of priority. Will I choose to put God first, giving him the first minutes of my day? Or will I let other tasks, thoughts, responsibilities and distractions get in the way? That’s what happened this morning.

Take a deep breath right now. Then another. Relax in the Lord. He has you. Now ask him to fill you with his Holy Spirit. He’ll give you power for the day, free you to center your thoughts on him and enable you to exercise faith for whatever is ahead.

Get in step with Jesus. You can’t go wrong by going to Jesus first.

June 12, 2019 Jfuglerwriter Comments Off on Faith and Pressure

Faith and Pressure

Jim was an Army officer and was called on to organize a big event for the brass. Generals would be flying in from around the world for the two-day affair. Jim’s reputation was on the line, as well as his chances for promotion. He saw it as a test of his capabilities to lead, and it was a big one.

For months, Jim prepared each element of the event, from travel to the agenda to the ceremonies. He had a tiny team to help him, so it really was his event to make succeed or fail.

Jim was a believer, so this pressure-cooker was also a test of his faith.

When the pressure is on, does your faith kick in? Or is it stifled?

Being overwhelmed can suppress our faith. For instance, when our schedule is unrelenting, it can own us. Our minds race towards the next set of responsibilities and arriving at the next commitment on time.

Christmas season, graduation, special events, a tight schedule or the flurry of family activities apply pressure to our lives. You might be in that zone right now. At times like this, the way we act and respond might not look any different than a non-believer’s response. 

How tragic. Our faith should shine under pressure. As in Jim’s case, we have the opportunity to demonstrate faith in action.

Instead of allowing these things to squeeze us and attack our walk with God, let’s push back with faith.

Your faith is something that grows from the inside out. It’s Christ-centered inner strength. Faith is confidence in God that results in peace from the Holy Spirit. You can’t whip it up under pressure. It develops over time as your relationship with Jesus deepens.

Think of it this way. An eagle forms inside an egg for 35 days. When it has fully developed, this little eaglet pushes out of the egg and into the world. It grows and feeds from the beak of its mother. Then it flies. And soon after, this growing eagle learns to feed itself.

Your eagle-like faith will take more than a few months. But when it matures, it will show itself by how you respond in the overwhelming seasons.

Do you really believe that the situation you’re in is bigger than God? Of course not! Relax and know that God has this. Take a deep breath and get perspective. By faith, give your overwhelming circumstance or burden to God. Trust him to handle whatever is pressuring you.

Experience what Jesus promised, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27 NIV)

What an incredible promise for challenging times. Live by faith in the all-powerful, sovereign God. He will give you peace.

Deepen your relationship with Jesus before the pressure arrives. Feed yourself with God’s Word, just like a soaring eagle. Pour your heart out to God in prayer. You’ll be better prepared for the overwhelming times.

(From my devotional Your Life With God: 30 Days of Faith. Available in Kindle and paperback formats on Amazon).


January 25, 2019 Jfuglerwriter Comments Off on Faith and Failure

Faith and Failure

Who was the biggest failure in the New Testament? A person that comes to mind is Peter. This man was an enthusiastic follower of Jesus. He pretty much stated he’d go to the ends of the earth for his Lord.

However, he failed Jesus in our Savior’s hour of greatest need. As Jesus was going through the suffering leading up to the crucifixion, Peter was asked three times if he was an ally of Jesus. Each time, he denied even knowing him. Peter was a terrible friend that night. He failed Jesus.

How do you feel when you fail Jesus? Depending on how severe the offense, you probably experience a range of emotions.

I can be in the pit of despair when I know I’ve let Jesus down. My once Herculean faith has been reduced to ashes. In fact, just a day before, I may have been a bold follower of Jesus, trusting God for great things. I felt indestructible. I had the faith of Peter.

Then came my fall. An angry outburst at my wife or a selfish decision that pushed others out of my life. How in the world could that happen in such a short period of time? Was my faith real yesterday or was I just acting?

I can imagine the devastation Peter felt when the rooster crowed. The light went on. He realized what he had done. 

We all act like Peter at some point in our faith walk. Let’s be honest. We’ve been like Peter many times, failing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The verse that rings in my mind is this . . .

“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18 ESV)

We can think we’re being super-faithful when we’re really being prideful. And that’s one reason we fall so easily. Pride was a big problem for Peter. He “knew” he’d always be a faithful disciple, yet fear defeated him.

His failure, though, changed his life. This turning point equipped him to lead the early church. God continued to refine him and deal with him. Read the book of Acts and you’ll see a bold Peter who acted out of a deep love for Jesus.

The solution for pride is to drop at the feet of Jesus and humble yourself before him. Confess your sin. Accept his forgiveness. Move forward as a changed person, but never forget the lesson.

Your sin was paid for on the cross. When you fail Jesus, turn to him. Restore your fellowship.

Rather than building your faith on yourself, let Jesus build your faith on himself.

From by new devotional Your Life With God: 30 Days of Faith. Start a fresh faith journey today. Get your copy on Amazon. (Kindle and paperback).


January 14, 2019 Jfuglerwriter Comments Off on Faith and Chips

Faith and Chips

For some reason, Colorado is famous for chipped windshields. I knew that sinking feeling well when we lived there. I’d hear a “click” as a small stone smacked my windshield and left its mark. If I let it go too long, that small chip would grow into lines that ran across the glass. Then it was too late to repair it.

When I left the state, I had about a half dozen chips in my windshield. Why didn’t I deal with them? Because after a while it was like “whack-a-mole.” Chips happened so often I just gave up and ignored them. Yes, eventually I’ll have to replace the pocked, lined glass.

As we go through life, our faith often is often chipped like my windshield. It’s not the big things that cause the damage, but the little things. And they add up.

For instance, the other day, I was reinstalling the plumbing on my bathroom pedestal sink. We had added a wood floor, had removed the sink and now the fun was about to begin. First, I learned that the water lines were now too short to reconnect to the valve. Then I discovered that the lines were glued into the handle hardware and not screwed in. But I persisted. Finally, after all my work, I realized I had installed the drain incorrectly when it leaked as I tested it with a pail of water.

Each of these little things were manageable in themselves, but together, after three hours, they caused me to shout, “Plumber!”

In the process, I was not living out my faith, if you know what I mean. I was a discouraged, frustrated mess by the end of the night.

What’s chipping away at your faith these days? Sure, we can often lean into Jesus when major trials and hardships meet us, but how about when the little things wear us down?

I often ask myself why I can be a super-spiritual man when it comes to trusting God for the big things, but I’m a wimp in the little things? 

It comes down to perspective. I can easily lose my eternal perspective when I am riddled by the small stones that chip away at my life.

In the big scheme of things, who cares if I get the sink installed tonight? What does that have to do with seeing the world come to Christ? 

If your faith is cracked right now, step back and see the world as Jesus does. His heart is that all people come to know and worship him. He desires that you reflect that character of God. He wants to live through you with his Holy Spirit. He wants you to experience the joy of walking with him.

As you ramp up for the day, or as you close things down for the night, name those chips that are dinging your life right now. Bring them before the Lord and let him do the repairs. Then take a deep breath and get perspective on the things of life that Jesus values.

I can’t say that your faith will instantly become “rock solid,” but it will head in that direction if you make this a common practice.

(From my new devotional Your Life With God: 30 Days of Faith. Available in Kindle and paperback on Amazon).

January 1, 2019 Jfuglerwriter Comments Off on Faith and God’s Love

Faith and God’s Love

God commands me to love the Lord with all my heart, soul and strength. You know what? He has given his heart, soul and strength for me.

That’s a powerful thought as we start the new year. It’s a powerful reality.

Picture Jesus on the cross. He’s giving his heart and soul for us. He’s giving all his strength for us. He’s giving himself 100% for us. That’s a picture of what He is continually doing today. I doubt I’ll be asked to love God to the extent that He loved me on the cross . . . and unconditionally loves me today with all his heart, soul and strength. 

That’s a God I can put my faith in. I can fully trust this God with my life. I should have no fear. No anxiety. No worry. No uncertainty. I should be able to rest in knowing that I’m safe in the hands of this God of love. There is no safer place. It’s a fact whether I believe it or not.  He demonstrated his great, full-heart love and I can go back and read about it day after day. 

This love is my refuge, as David proclaimed. He knew God’s Love. Look at all the Psalms that state it over and over again. Study them and know the love of God as David did. Immerse yourself in the love of God, the same love that was so fully expressed on the cross.

David did not know the cross but he knew the love of God. This came by spending time with the Lord and turning his heart over to him. He poured out his heart and soul to God. He knew the command to love the Lord with all his heart, soul and strength. He had a reciprocal relationship with God who expressed his love to David.

David was a man after God’s own heart. He chose to be and to live that way.

Where does that leave you?  You know a God who has given himself 100% for you and you’re called to give yourself 100% to him. To fully trust him, believe him, walk with him, step out for him, serve him.

This is what is means to have complete faith in your loving God. Jesus sacrificed himself and loved you on the cross with all his heart, soul and strength.  He has done for you what he asks you to do for him. He has left you with a clear picture of his love. And that love continues today.

(From my new devotional Your Life With God: 30 Days of Faith).

December 17, 2018 Jfuglerwriter Comments Off on Faith and Tests

Faith and Tests

“Jon, it appears that our website isn’t loading. I wonder if we got hacked.”

That’s the text that started my day this morning. As you can imagine, it woke me up in a hurry.  Indeed, our website was down. And still is.

I’m a spiritual superstar and a man of great faith, so I took it all in stride. Right? The truth is, I went into panic mode. Not crazy panic mode, but semi-panic. 

For the next hour and a half, I was in the middle of several text conversations with experts and colleagues, trying to solve the crisis. Considering I have no web talents, I was helpless.

Then it hit me. God is here. Now that’s pretty obvious, isn’t it?

Why is it when crisis hits, we usually turn to ourselves first, rather than to God? Where’s our faith?

I was at that crossroads this morning. Eventually, I stopped and called on Jesus, praying that he would step in. He is bigger than website crashes and unknown hackers. In fact, he’s bigger than the whole internet! Again,an obvious reality that gets lost in crisis.

God tests our faith and it’s almost always a pop quiz. You’ve rarely seen tests of faith coming, have you? Yet, you need to know the answer.

And that answer is Jesus. 

Oh, how liberating it is to know that this Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, is always the answer. He is the Creator of the Universe, the One who set things in motion. He is the Almighty, All-knowing and Eternal God. He is the Savior worthy of my trust. 

When I put my faith in that Lord, my crises diminish in size and intensity. My spirit is calmed.  My hope grows. My faith is stronger.

I’m still the helpless webmaster, but Jesus is walking with me.

How do you handle tests of faith? Do you turn to Jesus right away or do you exhaust your own solutions first?

Let this passage run through your mind in preparation for your next pop quiz . . . which could come at any time.

“The Son is the image of the invisible God,the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him…” (Colossians 1:15-19 NIV)

From my new devotional, Your Life With God: 30 Days of Faith, releasing in January on Amazon.

December 10, 2018 Jfuglerwriter Comments Off on Building Strong Faith

Building Strong Faith

This is a world of instant results. However, some things are better with time. Take oatmeal, for example. There’s nothing like slow-cooked,creamy oatmeal. I don’t care for the instant variety.  It tastes a little like sand.

Our faith is like that. We want the satisfaction of an unshakable faith without the ingredient of time. Slow-cooked faith is the kind that becomes strong.

Look at the great men and women of faith in the Bible. The famous Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11 speaks of Abraham, Noah, Sarah and other well-known Bible heroes.

We often focus our attention on the outcomes of their faith.God provided a ram for Abraham so he wouldn’t have to sacrifice Isaac. Noah built an ark which saved his family – and humanity.  Sarah gave birth at the age of 90. 

However, leading up to their faith victories, each one went through either long or agonizing experiences that built their faith. 

In the dramatic story told in Genesis 22, Abraham faced sacrificing his own son at the Lord’s command. Can you imagine the pain he was living within his walk to the altar with his son? Through the many years before that walk, Abraham had developed a relationship with God that caused him to be obedient when the stakes were high.

Even in his pain that day, he believed God for a miracle provision so he wouldn’t have to sacrifice Isaac. That kind of faith is not produced overnight.

Slow cooked. There’s no instant package when it comes to faith.

God provides events in our lives to strengthen our faith. Enduring difficult circumstances moves us closer to the Lord and makes our faith more solid. When we respond right.

Take an inventory of your experiences this past week. Do you recognize some of these as God’s ingredients to build your faith? They don’t all have to be major challenges or difficulties. Little things also build our faith.

How did you respond to these difficulties? Were you annoyed, flustered, angry and discouraged?  Or did you endure, trust, hope and see God in the midst of them?

The Lord desires to build your faith as strong as Abraham’s. Are you willing to be tested to the level it will require to get there?

Faith is developed in the real world with life’s challenges. May God give you his perspective today when you face faith-building experiences.

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”  (James 1:2-3 ESV)

From my book Your Life With God: 30 Days of Faith, available in January on Amazon.

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