Sharla, Author at Sharla Fritz - Page 22 of 29
June 16, 2015

Soul Spa

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Do you need a place to rest your heart?

We all live busy, stressful lives. Our souls feel like they are being pulled in a hundred different directions. We are desperately soul-tired, but not sure how to find the rest our spirits need.

When our muscles ache or our skin needs a moisturizing treatment, we know where to go. A spa can provide a relaxing massage or a soothing facial. But where do we go when the most important part of us needs care?

Believe me, I can relate. As a Bible study teacher, Christian speaker, author, blogger, church musician, and piano teacher I feel pulled apart every week. My spirit grows tired and worn. I know I need to take time to rest. I know my soul needs the care only the Savior can provide, yet I continue sprinting through my days, not paying any attention to my soul’s cry for help.

Finally, after years of ignoring my spirit’s need for rest and restoration, I decided to change. I began to learn how to bring my exhausted, fatigued, and shattered soul to the God who alone can restore it. I studied holy habits that Christians have used for centuries to draw close to the Savior. As I explored these practices, I found that they opened my heart to God’s working in my life. They gave Him the time and space for Him to restore my soul. All of these experiences led me to write Soul Spa–a book that is like a spa for the spirit.

I invite you to come to the Soul Spa where God is eager to meet you and care for your heart. Using spa analogies, this resource will guide you to engage in spiritual practices such as Scripture meditation, Sacred reading, discernment, fasting, and prayer. In the book you will learn how to develop your own personal plan for soul care.

Features of Soul Spa: 40 Days of Spiritual Renewal:

  • daily devotional readings
  • in-depth Bible study questions
  • exploration of Spiritual disciplines
  • reflection/discussion questions
  • perfect for personal or group study
  • memory verses
  • creative ways to spend time with God
  • instructions to form your personal soul care plan
  • fun spa activities to enhance the group experience.

Come to the Soul Spa where the Holy Spirit will nurture your soul with grace, mercy, and peace.

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  Check out my new at CPH or on Amazon!

Filed Under: Spiritual Disciplines Tagged With: ,
June 11, 2015

What It Means To Be Chosen

Eph 1-4

When I was in grade school, I hated gym class. Dreaded it, in fact.

While most of the kids probably longed to get out of their seats and play a game in the gym, I would have much rather stayed behind in the classroom. Or somehow become invisible.

Because I was never chosen.

Every phy ed class began with lining up against the pea-soup green walls of the gym. Every class meant two appointed team captains would choose teammates. And every class meant a knot in my stomach because I knew I would happen.

Lori would be chosen. Mark would be picked. Kathy’s name would be called.

Finally there would be two of us left at the wall. One of the team captains would hesitate and then say something like, “I guess we’ll take Roxanne.” Roxanne would go over to that side and it was understood I would go to the other. My name didn’t even have to be called.

I was never chosen.

Maybe you can relate to my story. We all want to be picked for the team, asked to the prom, invited to the party.

We want to be chosen.

 

chosen

That’s why I love this verse in Ephesians:

Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.

Ephesians 1:4

Imagine. Even before God poured out the oceans, lit up the stars, or formed the mountains, He saw you. He chose you. He picked you out of the line at the wall.

Let that soak in for a minute. I don’t know about you, but the fact that I am chosen brings a deep joy to my heart.

To be picked means I am desired. To be desired means I am valued. To be valued means I am not left at the wall feeling worthless.

Next Step: If you believe in Christ’s work on the cross, you are chosen. Thank God for picking you out of the crowd and sending the Holy Spirit to put faith in your heart. Thank Him that He sees you as valuable and precious.

If you are not yet a believer, know that Jesus is calling you to be on His team. Accept His invitation to life with Him forever.

Filed Under: God's Relentless Love Tagged With: ,
June 4, 2015

The Secret to Unfading Beauty

“Hey mom, can I buy this mascara?”

“Can I get this lip gloss? I’ll use my own money. Pleeeease?”

“Will you ever let me wear makeup?

When I was thirteen, these were the questions I pestered my mother with constantly. After reading teen magazines, I was convinced that makeup was what I needed to be beautiful. Just a little mascara, a bit of blush, and a dab of lip gloss and I would be able to look like the models on the glossy pages I read over and over. A few cosmetics were all I needed to make everyone at school like me—to make me like me.

Plenty of products

Judging by the thousands of beauty products available, I’m not the only one who has ever had those thoughts. During a quick trip to the drug store today, I stopped to browse in the makeup aisle. I was astounded by the number of mascaras available for sale. Under the Maybelline sign alone I counted twelve different colorful tubes of the stuff. Almay had five. Cover Girl had thirteen. In all, I found 73 unique products guaranteed to enhance my eyelashes!

That doesn’t even take into account all of the other items offered in the cosmetic aisle. We can buy products to make our cheeks appear rosier, our eyebrows darker, and our lips shinier. Thousands of choices are available to buff up our appearance—our physical beauty.

True beauty is inside

When I looked up and down all the aisles of the store, I couldn’t find any products to help me enhance my inner beauty. I didn’t see any gels or lotions to help me develop a beautiful heart. Which is sad, because that’s the kind of beauty God wants us to have…..

To continue reading, click here to see the rest of the article at Fervr.

Divine Makeover001

Do you have a daughter or granddaughter celebrating a graduation or confirmation this spring? Consider blessing her with a copy of     Divine Makeover!

Filed Under: Spiritual Growth Tagged With: ,
June 2, 2015

The Trouble With Living For Applause

We cannot live for applause.

I came to this conclusion when I finished a slow tour through the book of Mark. As I read, I reflected and slowly contemplated God’s message to me in these words.

The stories of the week leading up to Jesus’ death made this truth abundantly clear because of the 180-degree turn the crowds made that week.

On Palm Sunday, the crowd gathered around Jesus, laying their garments at His feet, and shouting praises:

“Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!  Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!” (Mark 11:9-10)

But just six short days later, the crowds changed their tune. Now they were shouting,

“Crucify Him!” (Mark 15:13)

Astounding. How could the people change their minds, their words, their opinion of Jesus so dramatically? How could they want Him to be their king at the beginning of the week and want Him dead by the end?

Of course, all of this had to happen for Christ to fulfill His mission to rescue us. But it also shows the fickleness of people.

One day you are invited to all the popular parties, the next you are excluded. One week the boss likes everything you do and the next someone else in the office is her favorite. One year you have great success, the next you are scrounging for business.

So if we are only living for the approval of people, we are in big trouble. People’s opinions change daily. What they like and don’t like is influenced by the media, the latest styles, and even by how much sleep they got the night before.

Jesus knew this so He wasn’t rocked by the applause OR the condemnations of the people. He simply focused on living to please His Father. He told His disciples,

“My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.” (John 4:34)

and even said,

“I do not accept praise from men.” (John 5:41)

The trouble with living for applause of people is people are fickle. Their opinions are often inconsistent. If we keep living to please other humans we will find ourselves with a million different game plans. We will bounce from one goal to another because the world keeps changing. People’s opinions constantly fluctuate.

Instead we need to live to please the One who never changes. Our focus will be clearer if we let praise from men roll off our backs. Our lives will be richer and less chaotic if we live to do the will of the Father who loves us no matter what.

Next Step: Look at your schedule or to-do list for tomorrow. Choose one item and ask yourself: Am I doing this to please other people? What difference would it make if I worked at this task simply to please my Savior?

Filed Under: Spiritual Growth Tagged With: ,
May 28, 2015

Learning to Delight in the Gift

 

A while back I met a friend for lunch that I hadn’t seen in months. She met me with a hug and a beautiful bunch of pale pink tulips.

My first thought was: They are so lovely! 

My second thought was: I didn’t get her anything! 

Somehow how I couldn’t fully delight in the gift because now I felt the balance of friendship was upset. 

As I contemplated this I realized that my delight in God’s gift of grace is also somewhat diminished by the fact that I didn’t give Him something of value in return. I feel I have to do something for God 

In one way this is perfectly sane because it is a good thing to want to give back to God.

But in another way, this is ridiculous because what could I give God that could equal the incomparable gift of His Son?

The real problem lies in the fact that sometimes my doing gets in the way of enjoying God. The nagging feeling that I should be busy in His service sometimes prevents me from simply delighting in Him.

 

Psalm 37:4 says:

Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

When we learn to delight in the Lord, He becomes the desire of our hearts. We rest, contented with who He is and what He has given. The pressure to do is diminished. The weight of the my inadequacy is lifted

Just for today, let’s put aside our doing and simply sit at Jesus’ feet enjoying His presence, reveling in His grace, marveling in His love.

Delight in the gift.

Next Step: Take five minutes today to sit quietly with God. Delight in His love, care, and protection. Thank Him for His many gifts to you.

Filed Under: God's Relentless Love, Spiritual Growth Tagged With: ,
May 26, 2015

When You Struggle to Find Success

 

definition of success

How do you define success?

The other day I was reading Genesis 39 and a verse about success jumped out at me.

The Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did. (Genesis 39:23 NIV 1984)

Out of context this verse may not be all that surprising. If you know the story of Joseph in the Old Testament, you know that he became a ruler in the land of Egypt. Only the Pharaoh was ranked higher than Joseph. The would fit most anyone’s definition of success.

But Joseph doesn’t become an important ruler until Genesis 41. In chapter 39 Joseph is not in a palace–he is stuck in a prison. The success he had was not in ruling a nation, but in aiding a prison warden manage the other prisoners.

So I wondered, did it look like success to Joseph?

I doubt it.

Maybe he thought: Sure the warden is impressed with me. But the only people who see my hard work are the ones stuck in this hole with me. What difference does it make?

Obviously it made a difference to God.

God saw Joseph’s work and declared it a success. So perhaps God’s view of success is a tad different than the world’s definition.

The world defines success in terms of how much money you make or how many people you influence. A prisoner in a dark cell working to help other prisoners simply wouldn’t be lauded for his achievement.

So why did God declare Joseph a success? Because Joseph did his best in whatever situation life threw at him. He was responsible and accountable. He worked hard even when it seemed that hard work would not benefit him personally.

That is God’s definition of success.

I often get hung up on the world’s definition of success. I tend to pay too much attention to the “experts” who tell me I need to sell more books, have more Facebook followers, have a bigger platform. But at least for today I’m going to listen to God and embrace His definition of success: Do your best wherever you are.

God sees. God knows. God will bless your work.

Next Step: What task do you need to accomplish today? Do it to the best of your ability. Declare it a success even if no one else notices.

Filed Under: Spiritual Growth Tagged With:
May 14, 2015

Base Your Identity On This

An identity is a fragile thing. A memory from my college days confirms this.

I stared at my first college report card. Most of the grades were As and Bs. Not bad.

But there was one grade that stuck out. Aural Music Theory: C. Not good.

All semester long I had struggled with this class. The professor asked us to do a whole list of seemingly impossible tasks: “Listen as I play this chord on the piano and identify its quality. Write down this rhythm as I tap it out. Listen to this melody and write it out note by note.” I knew I wasn’t getting an A in that class.

But a C. For someone who had always prided herself on good report cards, a C was depressing.

I was never good at athletics. In grade school, I was always the last kid picked for teams. I knew I would never win a beauty pageant. My sister got all the natural good looks in the family. So I based all my self-esteem in the fact that I was pretty good at memorizing facts and understanding algebra and taking tests.

What did it mean if I wasn’t good at school anymore?

Most of us tend to base our identity in our looks, our skills, or our intellect. Maybe you’ve always been the cute girl. Or perhaps you could run fast from the time you were in first grade. Or like me, you were always the one who could ace a test.

We take pride in who we are.

Now, it isn’t necessarily wrong to find satisfaction in the gifts God has given us. The problem comes when we base our identity in those gifts. We run the risk of losing the ability to like ourselves when all of our self-esteem is wrapped up in being able to please certain people or perform certain tasks. Because what happens if we can’t do them anymore?

God wants you to see that you are not just Beauty Queen, Athlete, or Comedian. You are His child and He loves you not because you are pretty or smart. He loves you because He loves you.

Romans 5:8 says:
But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

It doesn’t say: God shows His love for you while you were beautiful. It doesn’t say: God shows His love for you while you were winning races.

It does say: God shows His love for us while we were still messed up. It does say: Christ died for us when we didn’t look like much.

God loves us. Period.

And that is where your identity and pride should be based. Your self-esteem won’t be rocked as long as you keep in mind this one timeless truth: God loves you as you are.

Remember, you are not only Gifted Athlete, Amazing Brainiac, or even Ordinary Girl. You are a Child of the King.

Divine Makeover001

This post is adapted from my book for teens: Divine Makeover: God Makes You Beautiful.

Are you looking for a meaningful Christian gift for a young lady? Consider Divine Makeover, a book that encourages young women to find their beauty and identity in Christ. It has a lot of fun along the way with clothing analogies and fashion tips. Find it here and here.

Filed Under: Bible Study, God's Relentless Love Tagged With: , , ,
May 12, 2015

Why Giving Up Control Isn’t Always a Bad Thing

“Sharla, you most certainly would be classified as a Field Marshal.”

My sister-in-law’s words caught me off guard. I was sitting at the dinner table enjoying a relaxed meal with my extended family.  We were passing potatoes and sharing stories when my sister-in-law began talking about a personality test she was using at work. She was so excited about the test that she started to guess how each of us might be classified.

She went around the table, identifying each person: “You would probably be called a Mastermind.” “I think you would be a Champion.” “You might be a Healer.”

I wondered what I might be. Mastermind or Champion sounded impressive. But when my sister-in-law looked at me and called me a Field Marshal, I was stunned. How could she compare me to a bossy military commander who ordered troops?

Was she right? Did other people perceive me as bossy and controlling? Even though I wasn’t convinced I was the one wearing a field marshal uniform, my sister-in-law’s comment forced me to look at myself. Well, I did like to keep things organized. Like an army officer, I took charge of my surroundings: clothes arranged by color, kitchen utensils by use, and books by author’s last name. But did that make me a control freak?

OK, maybe I wore that field marshal uniform more often than I wanted to admit. I noticed my inner control freak often came out when working with others. I couldn’t help offering “suggestions”: “Don’t you think it would be better if we did it this way?” “I’ve found this method to be much more successful.” “I really don’t think that’s right.”

Then I realized I sometimes did the same thing with my heavenly Father: “God, my life would be so much better if You answered my prayers according to my plan.” “This is not the way my life should be going!”

When I looked at myself honestly, I couldn’t deny I had a few control issues. So I took my sister-in-law’s words to heart and tried to change my ways. I realized that my relationships with God and the people in my life could be improved if I stepped out of the commander’s uniform.

If we’re truthful, we all like to be in control. But when we’re ready to change, the first step is realizing that God is the One wearing the field marshal suit.

James 4:7 says,

“Submit yourselves therefore to God.”

The Greek word for submit is actually a military term meaning “to rank under.” In other words, if I am submitting to God, I am willing to obey Him. I am the one who takes orders, not gives them.

Okay, I admit this is not easy, especially for someone labeled a Field Marshal. It goes against everything in me to let God be in charge of my life. I want things to go my way.

But then I remember: God is God and I am not. No matter how badly I want to control the universe to my advantage, the truth is—God is in control. When I pull against His leading, I am only struggling out of His loving hand.

A surprising thing happens when I stop straining and allow my heavenly Father to lead me. When I let Him direct my life, I find that I’m happier than when I foolishly think I’m the one in charge. When I stop pounding my fists and demanding my way, I can open up my hands for God’s blessings.

Divine Makeover001

This post was adapted from my book for teens and young women:

Divine Makeover: God Makes You Beautiful.

Do you need a Christian gift for a graduate? A special present for a confirmand? A resource for a summer study with some awesome teens?

Check out Divine Makeover at CPH and Amazon.

Filed Under: Bible Study, Spiritual Growth Tagged With: , ,
May 7, 2015

Why You Need to Change Your Focus

 

What are you focusing on And how is that working for you It might be time to change your focus.

I love movies. The story-telling. The cinematography. The sense that you are entering another world for a short period of time.

One of my favorite “special effects” in movies is when the camera focuses on a person in the foreground while the background is blurry. Then the cameraman changes the lens to focus on what is behind the person. Suddenly you see the danger approaching or the what the main character has been searching for during the entire film. We couldn’t see it until the focus was changed.

It’s like that in life too. It’s so easy to focus on what’s right in front of us. The problems. The mess.

We see the spilt coffee. The endless string of red lights on our drive to work. The news of earthquakes and riots on the news.

But we can choose to change our focus. Adjust the lens. After the coffee is cleaned up, savor the delicious taste of the vanilla latte. While sitting at the red light worship along with the songs on the radio. Concentrate on the good news of one small baby who survived the rubble of Nepal.

When we look at our everyday world we can see crime and chaos. But if we keep our eyes open we can also see glimpses of God. No Jesus probably won’t come to me walking on the waters of Lake Michigan. But if I’m paying attention to the clues, I can sense Him in the scent of the lilacs. I can see Him in the multi-colored rainbow. I am reminded of His care in the embrace of a friend.

I have to admit–I am writing these words for me today. With my husband’s lymphoma diagnosis, it’s easy to get depressed if I focus on the diagnosis, on the difficult treatments, on the annoying waiting time.

What I need to do is focus on God’s promise to give me peace in the problems. I need to remember how He has always come through for us in the past. I need to look for the goodness and beauty He promises to manufacture out of pain.

So let’s all adjust our lenses to focus on Jesus instead of the mess, the chaos, the pain of this life.

Action point: Choose to focus your lens on Jesus today. Look for Him in your everyday life, in the nature surrounding you, and in the people you meet.

Adjust your lens

 

Filed Under: Spiritual Growth Tagged With:
April 30, 2015

Book Review: Living a Chocolate Life

 

 

Living a Chocolate Life Bible Study cover

I am a confirmed chocoholic. So is it any wonder that I couldn’t wait to read this book?

Living a chocolate life certainly sounds delicious.

But this book is more than an ode to my favorite sweet. It is a Bible study on the sweet grace of Jesus Christ.

According to author Deb Burma:

Living a chocolate life means sampling everything from bitter nuggets of pain to sweet morsels of joy. Some days are dark and lumpy, others are light and smooth. Whatever the shape, flavor, and texture of our days and however our lives are packaged, we can savor God’s rich and endless supply of grace in Christ! Wrapping us in forgiveness, the Holy Spirit fills us with sweet faith in our Savior.

One of my favorite stories in the book is about one of the author’s own baking disasters. When Deb was preparing a triple layer cake for dinner guests, she didn’t shave off the mounded center of each layer before frosting and stacking. The chocolate treat looked magnificent for a minute, but then the top two layers split in half. Crumbs and frosting landed everywhere. She managed to salvage the dessert by shaving off the rounded tops and piecing it all back together with more frosting. When she was finished, no one could tell that it had been a near disaster. Deb tells us that is how God’s grace is: “When we fail, when we make mistakes, when we crumble under the weight of our sins, our heavenly Father lavishes His thick, indulgent grace upon us. He covers our sins and forgives us through Christ’s atonement on the cross.”

Deb explores rich Scriptures about God’s endless supply of grace to us and how we can share that grace with others. The study talks about our cravings and finding satisfaction in Christ. It explores the bitter bites of life and the sweet surrender of our hearts to God’s plan. Throughout the book readers are encouraged to dig into the Bible and memorize meaningful bites of it. Discussion and reflection questions are present throughout.

While this study would certainly be meaningful to complete on my own, I can’t wait to do it with my small group because it is also filled with scrumptious recipes for decadent chocolate treats like her Extravagant Chocolate Three-Layer Cake, Best Ever Chocolate Chip Cookies, and Triple Chocolate Rocky Road Brownie Pizza. It would be so much fun to make one of these treats each week to share with the women in my group as we share encouragement and hope.

About Deb Burma:

debburmaDeb Burma has a passion for sharing Christ’s love through the study of God’s Word. Whether she’s speaking, leading women’s ministry groups, or writing, her creative and engaging style touches the hearts of women and meets them in the moments of their everyday lives. Deb travels across the country and internationally as a leader and guest speaker for women’s ministry retreats, conferences, and special events. She is also the author of Bible studies and retreat kits, devotion books and the Christian-living/Bible study book “Stepping Out: To a Life on the Edge”, all published by Concordia Publishing House. Currently, Deb is also a women’s Bible study leader and a Youth Ministry leader at Peace Lutheran Church in Columbus, Nebraska, where her husband, Cory, serves as pastor. They are blessed with three beautiful children: Chris, Courtney, and Cameron. Learn more about Deb on her blog Fragrant Offerings

Filed Under: Bible Study
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