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August 22, 2019 Jfuglerwriter Comments Off on The Encouragement of God’s Love

The Encouragement of God’s Love

This is amazing! He created everything out of nothing. He threw the universe into existence. He caused the sun to rise and set and has done it every day since he set the earth into motion. He created man and every living thing.

And he loves you.

The God of the universe, the Lord and creator of all, loves you. If that isn’t downright shocking, I don’t know what is.

Sometimes I pinch myself to realize this truth. I can wander through my day without ever thinking about his everlasting, sacrificial, deep, unchanging love for me. When I do stop and ponder it, my heart announces, “This is fabulous!”

He loves us so much that, when you and I accepted his gift of salvation, he adopted us into his family. Really? Why you? Why me? Certainly not because we deserved to be adopted, but because he chose us. He chose to shower his love on us as a Father.

Years ago, there I was, ignoring God and living for myself. Out of the blue, he decided to adopt me. He did the same for you.

Be encouraged by these loving benefits as God’s adopted child:

Eternal life. You get to live with him forever. This adoption is permanent.

Acceptance. You don’t have to earn his love, just like your kids don’t have to earn yours.

Forgiveness. Good-bye guilt. Hello peace of mind. When you accepted God’s gift of his Son and confessed your sins, you were forgiven. Forever.

Family. You’re part of the biggest family ever. Every other person who has been adopted by God is your brother and sister. You share some pretty high privileges.

Wise, loving direction. God offers his wisdom to you whenever you need it.

Known. Every hair on your head is numbered by God. He sees you as an individual and knows your every desire and thought.

Care. Like a shepherd cares for his sheep, you’re cared for by God, day and night.

Blessings. Your blessings as a family member are too many to list here. But try these for starters:  peace, hope, inheritance and the Holy Spirit inside you.

Faithfulness. One thing you always can count on is God’s faithfulness. Here’s just one example: “But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.” (2 Thessalonians 3:3 NIV)

God isn’t a force far away. He is personal. He is a loving Daddy who is near to you. Take a few minutes and reflect on your encouraging privileges as an adopted child of the Heavenly Father.

(From my new devotional, Your Life With God: 30 Days of Encouragement. Available from Amazon in Kindle and paperback editions.)


November 20, 2018 Jfuglerwriter Comments Off on Faith and Children

Faith and Children

Our home has several crawl spaces that are accessible on the second floor. Small doors open to a secret world kids love to explore. As adults, we know these spaces as the attic.

Our grandchildren are ready to crawl and walk through this secret world without reservation. In fact, one of our grandsons said, “Grandpa, you live in a castle!”

As for me, I enter these spaces cautiously. For some reason, I don’t trust the plywood and massive joists to hold me up. I envision falling through to the floor below. My fear is unfounded, but real.

All my grandchildren are less fearful that I am! They’ll play in the attic with no fear at all while I’m afraid to go in. How’s that for being humbled?

In my walk with God, I wish I had the faith of a five-year-old. A five-year-old believes, no questions asked.

The same “attic fear” creeps into my life. I’m sure you have some of that, too. These might be some of your fearful thoughts . . .

“Lord, are we going to make it financially this month?”

“God, my kids are turning away from you.”

“Father, please make this pain be nothing serious.”

Our God is trustworthy. We know that. So why do we doubt God when the stuff of life hits?  Why is our faith shaky?

How can I have the faith of a five-year-old?

I think the solution is to know God for who he is. That may sound simple . . . because it is.

We have a habit of making God in our image. We won’t openly admit it, but we think of God as limited.

Here is who God really is.

Eternal. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8 NIV)

Trustworthy and faithful. “God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” (Hebrews 13:5 NIV)

Giver of everlasting life. “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.’” (John 11:25)

Powerful. “For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God?” (2 Samuel 22:32 NIV)

Lord of all. “He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.” (Psalm 147:4-5 NIV)

Love and loving. “So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love.” (I John 4:16)

Good. “For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.” (Psalm 86:5 ESV)

This is the God who is at the center of our faith. It’s dangerous when we wander away from these truths and see God as weak, incapable, finite and not worthy of our trust. How tragic.

Immerse yourself in the true God. Study the verses above. Think about them. Let the reality of who God is sink in. He is the one you can always turn to.

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

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