Christmas Archives - Sharla Fritz

Sharla December 21, 2021

When You’re Floored By Bad News

Christmas is a joyous season, but for some it doesn’t feel that way.

I understand. Some of the most painful events in my life happened in the month of December. The two miscarriages I experienced both happened in that month. My father died on December 7 in 2001. It was Christmas Day when we found out that my husband’s father had passed away.

Sometimes the happiness of the season only amplifies your pain.

Maybe this year you didn’t have a lot of good news. In fact, you had more than your fair share of bad news. Perhaps your job disappeared in the sinking economy. Or your doctor gave a diagnosis without much hope. Or you lost a loved one. You are waiting and hoping for some good news.

I bet the shepherds near Bethlehem on that Christmas night felt much the same way. The whole nation of Israel had been groaning under Roman rule. They were tired of seeing foreign soldiers in the streets. They were tired of obeying a ruler who lived far away. Life seemed like a long string of bad news.

So when the angel announced that he had good news for them, he immediately had the shepherds’ attention:

Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:10-11)

The shepherds didn’t waste any time in going to see what all the good news was about. They raced to Bethlehem to see the baby and immediately told others the good news (Luke 2:17). They praised God for all they had seen and heard (Luke 2:20).

As I think about the shepherd’s response I am humbled.

You see, the good news they received did not immediately change their financial situation. Sharing the good news probably gave them their 15 minutes of fame, but it didn’t get them wealth or power.

Still, they realized that this was the best good news and so they told others and praised God.

I, on the other hand, may not always be exuberant about the good news of the Savior. I’m tempted to continue to focus on the bad news: the doctor’s diagnosis or the generally lousy state of the economy. I forget that the good news of Jesus overcomes any of the rotten news of this world. Yes, things might not improve right away, but God promises a happy ending in heaven for those who trust in the Babe of Bethlehem.

So this Christmas I’m praying that I will be more like the shepherds–rejoicing in the best news ever!

The good news of Jesus overcomes any of the lousy news of this world. Share on X

Jesus Christ is born! We are rescued from sin and death! In Christ we have life and peace! We are welcomed into God’s family.

Next step: Write a prayer thanking God for the best news ever. And if this year is one of those years with more bad news than good, I would be honored to pray for you. Send me an email or share your prayer requests in the comments below.

Filed Under: Spiritual Growth Tagged With: Christmas, good news, shepherds

Sharla December 7, 2021

When You Are Waiting

When you are waiting, time seems to stand still. We wonder what to do and what God is up to.

But when I look in the Bible and see the many stories of waiting, I’m encouraged. We can look at their lives and find clues for our own.

Elizabeth had her own tale of waiting. The story of Christmas rightly centers on the miraculous birth of Jesus, but Elizabeth opens the story with a miraculous birth of her own.

Luke describes Elizabeth and her husband Zechariah as “righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord” (Luke 1:6). Both of them carefully obeyed God’s laws for worship and daily life. But they had a great sadness—Elizabeth was barren. Plus, Luke tells us that she and Zechariah were both advanced in years. Years ago when I was struggling to get pregnant, people tried to comfort me by saying, “Don’t worry. You’re young. You’ll get pregnant soon.” No one was saying those words to Elizabeth any more. Elizabeth waited and waited and waited and still was not blessed with a child. All hope of ever having a child had long faded. It had now become, humanly speaking, an impossibility.

Then one day, Zechariah is surprised by the visit of the angel Gabriel who tells him that God has heard his prayers and that they will soon have a son!

Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth,for he will be great before the Lord. (Luke 1:13-15)

And if that isn’t enough to knock over Zechariah with a feather, Gabriel goes on to tell the old priest that his son will be the one to prepare the people for the Savior!

This story is so encouraging to me! Elizabeth waited and waited for a baby.

We all wait. Wait for news about the new job. Wait for healing. Wait for the restoration of a relationship. And we hate it. Wait is a four-letter-word that we want to avoid.

But when I look at the stories in the Bible I see that God often made His people wait. It seems to me that often He didn’t work out the answer to the problem right away because the delay made the answer that much more miraculous. The birth of Isaac was that much more remarkable because he was born to ninety-year-old Sarah. Joseph’s rise to power in Egypt was even more amazing after spending years in prison. The Israelites possession of the Promised Land was more astounding after being enslaved in Egypt for 400 years, than if Jacob’s descendants had slowly taken over the region.

And now God drew attention to Zechariah and Elizabeth’s baby through a long delay.Because Elizabeth gave birth when she was “well advanced in years,” it seemed obvious that this child was going to be special.

Not only would the baby John be a significant addition to Zechariah and Elizabeth’s family, he would be important to the whole nation of Israel—because He would prepare the people for the coming of the Savior.

God was doing something bigger than answering a prayer for a baby. He was answering the prayer for a Savior. If John was going to prepare hearts for the arrival of the Savior it meant Messiah was coming soon!

So whatever you are waiting for look for God’s hand in it. He may be working out something even bigger than you can imagine!

Next step: What are you waiting for? Write it down on a piece of paper and then write out a prayer asking God to help you be patient as He works out His will. Ask Him to help you see the bigger thing He is working on through the delay.

Which of those four lessons from Psalm 40 will help you most when you are waiting?

If you want more help for your waiting season, check out my eBook: 7 Words Your Soul Needs in a Waiting Season.

In it, you will discover seven words that can mean wait. Seven words that can give hope and purpose in the middle of delay. Seven words your soul needs in a waiting season.

It’s FREE! Just sign up for my encouraging monthly newsletter and you will receive this devotional eBook with seven lessons on waiting, plus beautiful graphics of my favorite waiting Scriptures that you can print and frame.

Filed Under: Waiting on God Tagged With: Christmas, waiting

Sharla December 17, 2019

Advent Waiting: Waiting With Gladness

Advent is a waiting season. A time of waiting for Jesus.

Two thousand years ago, the nation of Israel was waiting for the fulfillment of the promises for a Savior. They had been waiting for thousands of years. But there was one man who probably was waiting more expectantly than anyone else:

Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. (Luke 2:25-26)

We assume Simeon was old because death was on his mind. But God had made a very specific promise to him–he would not die before he had seen the Messiah. Perhaps every day, he woke up thinking, “Is today the day?”

Then one day the Holy Spirit moved him to go to the temple courts. It “happened” to be the day that Mary and Joseph were bringing the baby Jesus to the temple to be circumcised.

When Simeon saw this humble couple, he (like the prophetess Anna) recognized their young son as the Messiah. He went up to them, took the baby Jesus in his arms and said,

Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
    according to your word;
for my eyes have seen your salvation
  that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
    and for glory to your people Israel.

(Luke 2:29-32)

Simeon’s wait was over. he had seen the Savior.

When we are waiting–waiting for a husband, a child, a job–let’s remember that our most excruciating wait is over. God has sent the Savior! We no longer have to feel the burden of sin. We no longer have to drown in guilt and shame. Jesus came to the world, died in our place, and rose in victory.

When we are waiting, let's remember that our most excruciating wait is over. God has sent the Savior! Share on X

Yes, I might still complain when I’m waiting for healing, waiting to see my grandchildren, waiting for my coffee order at Starbucks. But even while I’m waiting, I can rejoice that the worst wait is over.

The Light of the world has come. He has entered the world and my heart. And no matter what else happens in this crazy world, I know that I, like Simeon, can depart in peace. And because of that I can rejoice.

Next step: If you do not know for sure that you are going to heaven, I assure you that Christ died and rose for you too. If you would like to experience God’s love and forgiveness, simply pray this prayer:

Father in heaven, I realize that I am a sinner and fall short of what You want for my life. I know that I cannot save myself or earn eternal life. Thank You for sending Jesus to die for me. Because of His death and resurrection, You have made me alive for eternity. Help me to turn from my sins and follow You. Thank You for the gift of faith in Your Son, Jesus, my Savior and for the assurance of eternal life with You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

If you would like to learn more about waiting well, check out my new eBook: 7 Words Your Soul Needs in a Waiting Season.

In it, you will discover seven words that can mean wait. Seven words that can give hope and purpose in the middle of delay. Seven words your soul needs in a waiting season.

It’s FREE! Just sign up for my encouraging Soul Rest newsletter and you will receive this devotional eBook with seven lessons on waiting, plus beautiful graphics of my favorite waiting Scriptures that you can print and frame.

Filed Under: Waiting on God Tagged With: advent, Christmas

Sharla December 18, 2018

A Meek Christmas?

Picture hundreds of children dressed in red velvet dresses and adorable red plaid vests running around a room in a church basement. Grownups shout out, “Quiet down! It’s time to line up!” But little boys and girls barely hear the instructions. They’re too busy comparing outfits and Christmas lists.

I can pull up that scene from my memory banks. Memories of Sunday School pageants past. Memories of excited children. Memories of holiday chaos.

Christmas is a loud, brash holiday. “Jingle Bell Rock” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” blast our ears inside every store we visit. Twinkling lights wink at us from every house. Commercials assault our senses with pleas to buy watches and perfume and chia pets for all our nearest and dearest.

Yet, the first Christmas arrived fairly quietly. Yes, angels sang out the glory of God and announced the birth of the Savior to a few scraggly shepherds, but Mary gave birth to the King of the world in a quiet stable. I imagine the mooing of a cow and the brayting of a donkey were the only sounds accompanying the cry of the Baby born that night.

Christmas in our culture would rarely be described as meek or quiet. But that is exactly how Christ entered this world.

I’m reminded of this fact when I listen to the words of the carol “O Little Town of Bethlehem”:

How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may hear His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him still,
The dear Christ enters in.

Messiah came quietly. Meekly. Unassuming.

Jesus Came Meekly

Our culture does not applaud meekness. In fact, meekness seems to have gone out of style.

Yet, we can learn from Christ’s example of humility:

Jesus embraced smallness. The Maker of the universe willingly became small enough to fit inside a young woman. The One who held the earth in the palm of His hand, purposefully decreased so He could walk on the earth.
Jesus came quietly. Except for Mary and Joseph, a few shepherds, and a bunch of farm animals, no one knew that the Savior of the world had arrived. No trumpet fanfares. No worldwide news bulletins.
Jesus relinquished His throne. He stepped down from the glory of heaven into a dark and dusty stable. He temporarily suspended His right to rule the world and submitted to the difficulties of life on earth.

Meek Souls

This brings us back to the carol “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” One of my favorite lines is:

Where meek souls will receive Him still
The dear Christ enters in

Even though Christ’s work on earth is done and He is once again seated on the throne next to His heavenly Father, He continues to work in our lives in a quiet way. He doesn’t force Himself on anyone. His meek nature continues to wait for us to accept His invitation of eternal love and peace.

What does a meek soul look like? Let’s use Christ’s example:

A meek soul embraces smallness. If I’m meek, I don’t attempt to make myself bigger or more important. I can be content with the smaller role. I can be content working behind the scenes.
A meek soul comes quietly. No boasting. No bragging. A meek soul doesn’t seek out acclaim.
A meek soul relinquishes the throne. Meekness allows me to give Jesus rule over my heart. Trusting in His goodness and love, I’m not afraid to let Him reign in my life because I know His way is best.

So this Christmas, my prayer is this:

Ruler of the world, thank You for giving up Your royal throne and coming to this dark and dusty world. Thank You for teaching us about meekness and quietness. This Christmas season, work Your gentle spirit in my heart that I may respond in meekness, allowing You rule my life. For I know Your loving ways, I know Your overwhelming goodness. You always know what is best. Help me to have a meek Christmas. In Your name I pray, Amen.

Next step: Listen to the words of “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” Rejoice that the King of kings was willing to step down from the splendor of heaven into our messy lives.

This post is part of my series inspired by the words of Christmas carols. You may also want to read a post about “What Child is This” and “O Holy Night.”

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Filed Under: Spiritual Growth Tagged With: Christmas, meek

Sharla December 11, 2018

What Child is This: Enthroning Christ

On Christmas Day at our church, we have a traditional carol-sing. During this time, members of the congregation can request any Advent or Christmas song found in the hymn book. We all love this tradition and look forward to it every year.

If no one calls out “What Child is This?” I raise my hand and request this favorite carol. I love the minor harmonies, the haunting melody, and, of course, the words.

One of my favorite lines is:

The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.

How amazing that the King of kings came not only to live on earth, but to live in my heart. How astounding that Christ came, not only to bring salvation, but relationship. When I pause to think about it, my heart sings in gratitude.

Enthrone Him

Unfortunately, I don’t usually stop long enough to think about this. Especially at Christmas time. I’m rushing around buying gifts, practicing for services, attending get-togethers. Not much time to think.

Maybe that’s why I love the words of the ancient carol. While I’m singing, “Let loving hearts enthrone Him,” perhaps I’ll pause long enough to consider what those words really mean.

The apostle Peter says something similar in his first epistle:

Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts. (1 Peter 3:15 NASB)

The word sanctify means to set something apart from the rest as holy and sacred. Of course, Christ is already holy. We cannot make Him more sacred or sanctified. So this verse encourages us to change our personal view of Him. It directs us to set Him apart from all the rest of the stuff in our hearts.

Our English word Lord comes from the Greek word kyrios which means supreme in authority, controller, and by implication, Master. (Blue Letter Bible) Peter asks us to set Christ on the throne of our hearts–to give Him supreme authority in our lives.

As a recovering control freak, this does not come naturally to me. I like to plan out my schedule. I prefer to make the decisions in my life. Enthroning Christ means I allow Him to plan the schedule and make the decisions. Truthfully, there have been times when God and I have had differences about which way my life should go. I have struggled to release my grip on my life.

Loving Hearts

What I find so amazing is that God knows this. And so He sits back and waits. While He waits, He reminds me of His love–a love that compelled a Father to send His only Son to a broken world. A love that made a King come to earth as a baby in a cow’s feeding trough. A love that drove the Lord of the universe to a criminal’s death on a cross. All to save me.

Jesus waits because He will never force me to enthrone Him. He doesn’t want me to give Him control of my heart out of fear. He waits for me to do it out of love. “Loving hearts enthrone Him.”

So, as I sing “The King of kings salvation brings, let loving hearts enthrone Him” this Christmas, I will remember the love of a King and prayerfully, thankfully, lovingly, seat Him on His rightful throne in my heart.

Next step: Listen to What Child is This and prayerfully sing along.

For another reflection on a Christmas carol click here.

Filed Under: Spiritual Growth Tagged With: advent, Christmas, surrender

Sharla November 27, 2018

5 Steps to Soul Rest in the Hustle of the Holidays

The holidays are upon us. I love the smells of pine and mulled cider. The sight of sparkling lights and glittering packages. The sounds of Christmas carols and jingle bells. The tastes of hot cocoa and Christmas cookies.

But along with all of these wonderful things, the holidays can also arrive with a ton of stress.

This is especially true in the age of social media when everyone posts pictures of their perfect family outings. When we see Pinterest posts of dazzling decorations and fantastic food. We may feel pressured to not only do it all but to do it better.

This threatens our soul rest. It prevents us from experiencing Christmas in “heavenly peace.”

So how can we find soul rest even in the hustle of the holidays?

Here are five ways I’ve found that can help:

Evaluate

Evaluate what is most important. Talk with your family and come up with a list of the five things that are most meaningful to you. You might discover no one cares about the annual trip to see the city’s Christmas tree or getting tons of presents. Highlight the traditions that are most important. Put those on your holiday calendar and consider dropping the rest.

Simplify

Simplify your traditions. When I was growing up, my family entertained a lot and my mother made sure we had plenty of treats for all the visitors. Every December we baked and decorated hundreds of cookies. When I grew up, I tried to carry on that tradition. But now I’ve simplified Christmas baking to only three types of cookies–my family’s favorites.

Some other ways we simplify: We put up a Christmas tree, but don’t put up any outdoor decorations. My husband and I have agreed to exchange only one hand-made gift. We send out an “Epiphany Letter” after the holidays instead of trying to send out cards before Christmas.

Choose

Choose a more peaceful holiday. After you’ve identified your most treasured Christmas traditions and simplified them, other activities and invitations are sure to arrive and threaten your peaceful Christmas. At each new opportunity, determine is this added activity will enhance your Christmas peace or unravel it. Choose peace over hustle and bustle.

Let Go

Let go of guilt and comparison. Once we’ve made the choice to have a peaceful Christmas, Pinterest posts of perfect Christmas trees will appear. We’ll see Facebook photos of friends out ice skating. We’ll be tempted to think we should be doing those things too. But let’s not false guilt and joy-stealing comparison derail us from our choice of a peaceful Christmas.

Focus

Focus on Jesus, the new-born King! Christ came to bring us soul rest. He said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Because of His humble birth, sacrificial death, and glorious resurrection, we don’t have to strive for acceptance with God. We don’t have to work hard to get to heaven. We simply receive God’s gifts of faith and salvation. When I focus on that fact, I find rest. Rest from working for approval, attention, and acclaim.

Some ways to focus on Jesus: Read a Christmas devotional. Reread the Christmas story in Luke. Listen to Christian Christmas music while you’re cooking dinner. Stop for a moment in the middle of the day to thank the Father for the gift of His Son.

Jesus invites me and invites you to let go of the hurry and activity of the season and rest in His love.

Next step: Make a list of your most meaningful Christmas traditions. Find ways to simplify some of them. Choose a peaceful holiday season. Let go of guilt and comparison. Focus on Jesus, the newborn King!

Filed Under: Spiritual Disciplines Tagged With: Christmas, soul care

Sharla December 11, 2014

The Gift of His Presence

“Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
She will give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel,
which means ‘God is with us.’”

Matthew 1:23

This is the wonder of Christmas: God is with us!

It’s the wonder of every Christmas, but this year I have experienced it in remarkable ways.

You see, this Christmas is different for me. My husband and I are officially empty-nesters. This summer my son got married and moved out-of-state. And almost four years ago my daughter moved out-of-continent.

The house feels a bit–empty.

When I was putting up the Christmas decorations this year, I was missing the days of kids clamoring to help. The breathless excitement of anticipating presents under the tree. The wonder of little eyes looking at the manger scene.

I was feeling a bit sad about the emptiness–until God filled my heart–with Himself.

He surprised me with the gift of His presence.

The other day I was turning a corner in my car when suddenly it was filled with God’s presence. My gray sedan felt like God’s tabernacle. I was overwhelmed with a sense of God’s love for me. Immanuel–God with me.

The next day I got up and saw a sunrise–beautiful pinks and purples and blues and God whispered in my ear: I painted this sunrise just for you. My eyes filled with tears. Immanuel–God with me.

Two days later I woke to a world cleansed with a blanket of white. It was almost as if God’s love was coming down from heaven in crystals. Immanuel–God with me.

And so today I am thankful. Even though my house seems a bit empty, my heart is full.

God’s presence filling all the emptiness.

Jesus came to our broken-down world and slept in a barn just to be with us.

Jesus felt hunger and experienced wet diapers simply to be with us.

Jesus consented to being a helpless, crying baby because He wanted to be with us.

Immanuel–God is with us.

Question: How have you sensed God’s presence with you this Christmas season?

Filed Under: God's Relentless Love Tagged With: Christmas, God with us

Sharla December 3, 2013

Why God is in the Waiting

I despise waiting. I hate the word wait.

I don’t like being put on hold on the telephone. I hate slow service in a restaurant. I despise long lines in the grocery store.

I especially hate delays when I come to God with desperate prayers.

But it seems to me that God loves the word wait.

He made the world wait thousands of years for the Savior. And during this time of the year, as we anticipate Christmas, we remember that long wait. During Advent, we think about when God tarries.

Why did God wait so long to send a Savior? Why is He delaying His return to judge the world? And why, oh why, does He wait to answer my prayers?

I believe one of the reasons for delay is that waiting draws us to Him.

I have to admit it. When everything is going well I am tempted to rely on myself–think I have everything under control.

It’s when I’m desperately praying for better health for a family member or for a change in our finances or for direction for my life that I am on my knees. When I don’t have everything under control, I turn to God.

Waiting makes me see all my efforts are useless. Waiting on the Lord makes me see that I need to trust God’s goodness.

Waiting pushes me to the heart of God.

Psalm 27:14 says:

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

Waiting isn’t for sissies. It takes strength and patience and unremitting devotion to God’s way.

But if we let the waiting draw us closer to God, if we allow the delay to pull us closer to His heart–we can realize there is a purpose in the wait.

Remember–even while you are in one of life’s many waiting rooms--God is there holding your hand.

Next step: Are you in a waiting season? Remember waiting can draw you closer to God. Post Psalm 27:14 where you will see it today to remind you to wait on the Lord.

If you would like to learn more about waiting on God, check out my book: Waiting: A Bible Study on Patience, Hope, and Trust.

The book studies the lives of:

Sarah
Hannah
The Widow of Zarapheth
Esther
Anna
The Woman with a 12-year Hemorrhage
Martha
Ten Virgins

Through their examples, we find hope for the delays in our lives. We learn how to wait well.

Find the book on Amazon or CPH.org

Filed Under: Waiting on God Tagged With: anticipation, Christmas, waiting

When You’re Floored By Bad News

When You Are Waiting

Advent Waiting: Waiting With Gladness