Spiritual Growth Archives - Page 9 of 13 - Sharla Fritz
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?

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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.

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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.

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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

 

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April 28, 2015

When You Feel Like You’re Straining Against the Wind

Where to look when you feel like you're straining against the oars.

“He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them.” Mark 6:48

Do you ever feel like you’re straining against the wind?

This month, I’m reading through the Gospel of Mark and when I got to chapter six, I immediately identified with the disciples in the boat. Gale force winds of cancer have blown into our lives with my husband’s lymphoma diagnosis. In my professional life, I sometimes feel like I’m frantically rowing, but not getting anywhere. Winds of loneliness and despair occasionally blow my way.

Perhaps you feel the same way. Financial tornadoes may be blowing into your life. You are constantly straining against chronic health problems. Relationship difficulties threaten to blow you down again and again.

Thankfully, Jesus didn’t leave the disciples straining at the oars on their own. He came to them miraculously walking on the water. He came to them comforting them with the words, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid” (Mark 6:50). Jesus speaks to our fears, our worries, our lack of courage with assurance He is with us. He is able to overcome the worst.

Life often feels like one big struggle against the wind. What we can learn from Jesus' disciples in Mark 6.

Learning From the Disciples’ Experience

What can we learn from the disciples’ experience?

We may experience a time of waiting. Although Jesus saw the disciples straining at the oars in the evening He waited until 3:00 in the morning to come to them. We don’t know why Jesus waited to help the disciples. And we don’t know why we sometimes experience long waiting times for healing, for help, for hope. But we can take comfort in realizing Jesus sees us straining at the oars. He knows firsthand the struggle against this world.

We sometimes don’t recognize Jesus in the struggle. When the disciples first saw a figure walking toward them on the water, they didn’t recognize it was Jesus. Mark’s account tells us that even after witnessing Jesus feeding a crowd of 5000+ with a couple of fish and a few loaves of bread, their hearts were hardened. They didn’t recognize Jesus on the water, because they didn’t recognize Him as God. We too may be so focused on the winds, on our struggle, on our own efforts, that we don’t recognize Jesus in the storm. Jesus promised us that He would never leave us. Ask Him to give you eyes to recognize Him. To believe that He is able to help. To recognize His aid may come in a totally unexpected way.

We can find comfort in Jesus’ words, “Take courage. It is I. Don’t be afraid.” The disciples had to wait for Jesus physical presence. But now He is always with us. He promises to be there with us in the struggle. The wind of trouble may not die down immediately like it did for the disciples, but we know Jesus will be there in the boat with us. When the waves appear to swamp our boat, we know that Christ is still in control.  

Next step: When you feel like you’re straining against the wind, wait for the answer. Recognize it may come in an unexpected way. Remember Jesus is in the boat with you.

original photo source

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March 31, 2015

How to Find Your Real Life

When you read the title, you may have thought, “What does she mean, my “real life”? How can I live anything but this one real life?

Well, the title is inspired by the words of Colossians 3:1-3. This passage begins:

“You have been raised to new life with Christ.”

Wow. Read those words again.

“You have been raised to new life with Christ.”

As I write this, Easter is right around the corner. The day we celebrate the glorious resurrection of Jesus is near. It’s one of my favorite days of the whole year. Joy spills out of my heart at the thought of sin and pain and confusion and death being conquered. Christ is risen!

But when I read those words of Colossians 3:1, I realize that Easter is also the day to rejoice in our resurrection. We have been raised to new life with Christ! Celebrate!

And if we have been raised with Christ, what does that mean for our lives?

Read on in Colossians:

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:1-3)

I admit this passage can send me on a guilt trip. I don’t often follow Paul’s instructions to “think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.”

After all, I live in a world that demands I pay attention to other cars on the road. Right now I need to think about spelling resurrection with three Rs and ending every sentence with a period. Day to day living means one of my most frequent thoughts is: What in the world am I going to make for supper?

I can complain that I don’t have the luxury in living in some spiritual retreat where I could concentrate on heavenly things. I can beat myself up for dwelling on what other people think of me or how to invest for retirement.

But what if this passage in Colossians inspired gratefulness instead of guilt? What if I thanked God that this current life–filled with Chicago traffic, grammar rules, and peeling potatoes–is not my real life?

This life has fear and rejection. It’s full of sadness and sorrow. This life hands us pain and death.

But my real life–the life I have because of Christ’s resurrection–and my resurrection–is different. This life is full of Christ’s love and acceptance. This life promises joy and peace. My real life has nothing but abundance and eternal being.

So this Sunday (Easter Sunday or any Sunday!) celebrate Christ’s resurrection– while remembering that it is your resurrection too. A resurrection to life–a life full of joy.

Next step: Journal about your real life. Start by listing the things you usually think of as your real life. Then write down what your how that life changes because of Christ!

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March 24, 2015

When You Can’t Do It By Yourself

eph 3-20

Every week people pass through my living room and take a turn sitting at my grand piano. I give them my undivided attention for thirty to sixty minutes while they play music by Mozart and Beethoven and Gershwin.  I help them make sense of fingering and eighth notes and terms like sforzando.

And I love it. Teaching piano is a joy.

This year I have three very young beginners. One girl who is only five herself comes with her mother and a little two-year old sister. While the older sister is having her piano lesson the little sister sits on the sofa while her mother tries to keep her occupied with storybooks and playing games on an iPad.

A couple of weeks ago the little sister was becoming very frustrated–making so much noise that it distracted my student. The mother explained, “She wants to play the game herself, but it’s hard so she gets frustrated when she can’t do it. But she gets angry when I try to to help.”

I had to laugh. Because this is exactly how I am with God.

I want to do stuff. I want to make a difference. I want to accomplish big things. So I work and work and sometimes it’s hard. I get frustrated because I cant’ do it. But do I go to God for help? Not….always. Instead, I act like a two-year-old and get angry when I can’t do it by myself.

Which is silly because trying to do something in my power without accessing the power of God is a little like trying to grate a pound of carrots by hand when all along I have an amazing food processor in my cupboard.

Ephesians 3:20 says:

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

God is able to accomplish infinitely more than we can imagine through his mighty power. Not through my genius. Not through my strength. Not through my determination.

So what does it look like to accomplish much in His mighty power?

Maybe it means stopping before I work to ask for His help.

Maybe it means admitting I need His assistance.

Maybe it means thanking Him that I don’t have to do it on my own.

Whew. I feel better already.

Next step: What would it look like in your life to work in God’s power instead of your own?Post Ephesians 3:20 where you will see it today.

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March 12, 2015

When Your Part Seems Small: Playing in the Symphony of Life

indispensable

Every so often I persuade my husband to attend a concert of classical music with me  A while ago we traveled into the city to hear the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

As soon as we found our seats, I knew something special was going to happen. On the stage, behind the chairs set up for the string section, sat six harps. I had never seen so many harps in one place! I could hardly wait to hear what fantastic part they would play in the opening music by Wagner.

But wait is what I did. The harpists sat for almost twenty minutes while the violinists and cellists moved their bows over their strings, while the flautists and oboists blew their horns, while the percussionists banged drums and clashed cymbals.

Finally, at the end of the Wagner pieces, the harpists pulled their harps toward their shoulders and began to pluck strings. But still I could barely hear them because, as they were plucking, drums were pounding, trumpets were blowing.

I wondered if the harpists were disappointed that they didn’t have a bigger part to play in the performance.

Truth be told, I sometimes feel like those harpists.

In the performance of life, it often seems like I do more waiting than performing. And when my time comes to play, hardly anyone notices. I sometimes feel that in the grand symphony of life, the part I play is very small. I wonder if I can make any difference at all.

When I read 1 Corinthians I wonder if some of the people that the apostle Paul was writing to in Corinth were feeling the same way. Paul uses the analogy of the body and tells the Corinthians that as Christians we are all part of Christ’s body. Some of us are eyes, some are ears, some are hands. But we are all important.

In fact, he writes:

Those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable.

(1 Corinthians 12:22)

When Wagner composed the piece for orchestra, he considered the harpists indispensable. Otherwise, he would not have included them. The timbre of the plucking strings was necessary for the sound he wanted to achieve. Though they waited a long to play and had a small part, the music would not have been the same without them.

Though we may wait for a long time to play our part, even though our part may seem small, it is crucial in God’s symphony of life. He made each of us for a specific purpose and role. He wants us to know our worth in His plan.

In God’s symphony of life, you are indispensable.

Next step: How do you see your current role in God’s symphony of life? Waiting? Playing? Remember all roles are important.

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