focus Archives - Sharla Fritz

Why You Need To Begin With The End In Mind

Sharla January 29, 2019

Awhile back my husband and I watched an inspiring movie called Life of a King.

It’s the story of a man whose life is transformed by chess–yes chess! Eugene Brown learns how to play chess while in prison. When he gets out, he finds work as a janitor at a local high school filled with students who don’t seem to care about school, learning, or life. Eugene gets roped into monitoring detention hall after school and proves unexpectedly persuasive in corralling the unruly students. But wanting to do more than just keep order, he starts to teach the students the game of chess–even forming a chess club at the school.

Whenever Eugene Brown coaches the students on chess strategy, he tells them, “Begin with the end in mind.” You see, the best chess players can see the end of the match when they move their first piece on the board.

Begin with the end in mind. Excellent advice for chess–and for life.

Those words remind me of the words of the apostle Paul in Philippians:

No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Philippians 4:13-14

You see, too often I’m only thinking about my next move in life. How can I get the next piece of my life in the right position for success? How can I get all the parts of my life aligned for greater accomplishment? I’m distracted by urgent.

Instead, I need to focus on what is truly important. What will matter not only now, but in eternity.

Which option gets me closer to the heavenly prize? Which activity, which attitude, which action brings me closer to the King–Jesus Christ.

Begin with the end in mind. How might that look in real life?

Maybe it means abandoning an organizing project I have planned–because stuff doesn’t last forever–and instead meeting a friend for lunch–because people do.

Maybe it means caring less about crossing off items on my to-do list and more about crossing the street to get to know my neighbors who may not know Jesus.

Maybe it means thinking less about what I need to accomplish and more about who I am–the beloved daughter of the Most High King.

Maybe it simply means having an eternity mindset. We are not made for this world. Each of us was created to live forever in the Kingdom of Heaven. Yes, we are still living out our lives on the chess board of life, but we won’t be here always. The God of grace reached down and rescued us so that we don’t have to live confined to an existence where we are totally responsible for our victory. Jesus already made the winning move which guarantees our triumph.

We aren't responsible for our victory. Jesus already made the winning move which guarantees our triumph! Share on X

Instead of being distracted by all the things in my messy present, I need to focus on my forever future.

Instead of being distracted by all the things in my messy present, I need to focus on my forever future. Share on X

Begin with the end in mind.

Next step: How can you begin with the end in mind today? How can you “press on to win the race”? What choices or activities do you have today that could benefit from an eternity mindset?

If you would like to learn more about avoiding distractions and living a focused life, check out my new book Distracted: Finding Faith-Focus Habits for a Frenzied World on Amazon.The ebook is only $3.99!

Inside you will find 16 Faith-Focus Habits that will help you:

find focus by connecting to God
truly pay attention to what is essential
prioritize your day
find focus in your work
make important choices
defeat the distractions of technology
find rest in our hectic world

When Your Goals Become A Distraction

Sharla January 22, 2019

You’ve probably heard the quote,

If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.

I’m a big believer in goals. In targeting a few life objectives. In formulating plans.

Because, without aiming at a target, it’s easy to wander through life drifting through the gift of time God has given without making a difference in the world.

But lately I’ve seen that my goals may also hold me back.

Not because they are too big.

Because they are too small.

A list of my goals for the next few weeks might look something like this:

Clean and organize bedroom closet
Write two new blog posts
Organize digital photos
Finish new book proposal

Some of those are huge goals. Anyone who knows my clothes-buying habit knows my closet is overflowing. The book proposal is an exciting new venture that might lead to something big. Organizing our photos is an enormous job because my husband takes thousands of digital photos.

But even so, my plans are puny compared to God’s plans for me. One of my favorite verses is Ephesians 3:20:

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.

God’s plans are much grander than any I could come up with myself. My goals often have to do with the stuff of this world: possessions, work, success. But God’s vision for my life is all about my character, my soul, my eternal worth.

It’s a little like I’m walking with Jesus on life’s path. He’s pointing out all the beautiful mountains and waterfalls and rainbows. But I’m too busy looking down on the ground looking for pebbles.

I’m distracted from the beauty that is my life by being too preoccupied with tiny ambitions.

Life with Jesus means trusting His plan for me. It means holding His hand and letting Him guide. Share on X

Life with Jesus means trusting His plan for me. It means holding His hand and letting Him guide. It means appreciating the beauty He has already placed in my life.

Sometimes it also means letting go of my own goals so that I can follow God’s.

If I aim at nothing (but my own goals), I may hit it every time (but miss God's big plan). Share on X

If I aim at nothing (but my own goals), I may hit it every time (but miss God’s big plan).

Next step: Write down three goals you have for your life. Spend five minutes praying, asking God to show you if these goals are the goal He has for your life. Ask Him to show you His goals for your life.

Inside you will find 16 Faith-Focus Habits that will help you:

find focus by connecting to God
truly pay attention to what is essential
prioritize your day
find focus in your work
make important choices
defeat the distractions of technology
find rest in our hectic world

The Antidote for a Distracted Heart

Sharla January 14, 2019

My heart has been distracted this past week.

I have three–no, four–no, five major projects I am working on. Planning meetings and emails with colleagues have crowded my day. My own seemingly endless to-do list threatens to choke out any sanity I have left.

And because of these distractions, my heart experienced symptoms of anxiety: the fever of too much to do and the cold sweat of not being able to get everything done.

You have probably felt symptoms like these. Has the strain of endless work at home or the stress of the workplace have left your heart shaky and weak?

What is the antidote for a distracted heart? Simply to bring it to Jesus.

Francis de Sales, a priest in Switzerland in the 1500’s, wrote:

If the heart wanders or is distracted, bring it back to the point quite gently and replace it tenderly in its Master’s presence. And even if you did nothing during the whole of your hour but bring your heart back and place it again in Our Lord’s presence, though it went away every time you brought it back, your hour would be very well employed.

Jesus promised His disciples–and us–“I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). But in the rush of all my life crises, I tend to forget–He’s here. In the preoccupation of my jumbled mind, I grasp at the tangled cords of my thoughts and let go of the Savior’s hands. In fixing my eyes on the problems, the hassles, the deadlines, I take my gaze off the Lord’s hands–the hands that continually beckon me to come.

This week I still have a hundred things to complete. But the most important thing on my task list is to continually bring my heart back to Christ and His peace. Whenever my heart has wandered away from God’s tranquil presence, I will gently bring it back to His loving hands.

That is the antidote to a distracted soul.

So whenever you notice the symptoms of anxiety and stress, recognize your distracted heart. Bring it back to Jesus.

Next step: This week notice the symptoms of a distracted heart: anxiety and stress. Whenever you experience these symptoms, stop for a moment. Whisper the Savior’s name. Sing a song of praise in your heart. Remind yourself with Jesus’ own words, “I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Bring your distracted heart back to the presence of God.

Inside you will find 16 Faith-Focus Habits that will help you:

find focus by connecting to God
truly pay attention to what is essential
prioritize your day
find focus in your work
make important choices
defeat the distractions of technology
find rest in our hectic world

3 Ways Abiding in Christ Can Change Your Life: Connecting

Sharla November 7, 2017

Abiding in Christ.

Every year I choose one word to focus on. One word to guide the next twelve months.

At the beginning of 2017, I chose “abide.” I hoped that studying and meditating on that word would help me understand it better. I kept asking, “What does that word mean, exactly?” “How do I abide?” “How does abiding help my relationship with Jesus?” “How can it affect my daily life?”

Although I am still learning, still growing, I am going to share what I have learned so far. I am going to tell three ways abiding in Christ changed my life. This post will concentrate on connecting.

When I began the study of abiding, one of the things I did was to memorize verses with the word “abide.” The first verse I memorized was John 15:5:

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

As I meditated on this verse, I realized that I often focus on bearing fruit–working for God’s kingdom, making a difference in the world. But if I’m trying hard to produce fruit on my own, it won’t work. Jesus tells me, “Apart from me you can do nothing.” I’m trying to squeeze out some awesome grapes (aka “amazing accomplishments”), but I end up exhausted and frustrated.

3 WaysAbiding in ChristCan Change Your Life

Then I recognized the fact that bearing fruit is not really my job. My role is to simply abide in Christ. And if I abide, fruit comes naturally.

Think about it. What if the branch said to the vine, “I’m working really hard right now to produce some fantastic grapes. All I need to do is read some more books on horticulture and get up before the sun and work till dark. It will be exhausting, but worth it. Vine, I don’t really need you, I just need to put in a little more effort.”

But the vine says, “It’s useless to try to produce fruit without Me. If you are not connected to me, you will not receive the water and nutrients that are necessary for growth and fruit. All you really need to do is stay connected to me. I will give you everything you need to produce amazing fruit if you just abide in me.”

So what does it mean to abide in Christ? We will explore that a little deeper in the upcoming posts, but to put it simply–to abide in Christ is to connect to Jesus. To keep my eyes on Him, trust Him for everything, and to rely on Him instead of my own abilities. It is to obey God’s commands because they are the instruction book for a fruitful and meaningful life. It is to sink my roots deep into His unconditional love and trust that what the Father wills is best.

This focus on abiding changed my life because it changed my attention from:

“How can I produce more?” or “How can I accomplish more?”

to:

“How can I connect to Jesus today?” and “How can I draw on His strength right now?

I shift my focus from what I can produce to what Jesus can accomplish. I turn my attention from doing to resting in His love.

So if you are exhausted by trying to squeeze out fruit–produce something impressive, accomplish something big–remember that’s not your job. Your role is to abide in the vine–Jesus–and then the fruit will come naturally.

Next step: Ask God to show you if you have been focusing more on producing or more on abiding. Write a prayer asking Him to help you learn to abide.

Check out my other posts on abiding in Christ: Keeping and Remaining.

How a NOT-To-Do List Can Help You Succeed

Sharla February 22, 2016

Today I’m posting over at my friend Melanie’s site. Read this preview and click to read the rest!

Last year started out with grim news.

My husband was diagnosed with lymphoma.

It was a shock for this guy who never takes a sick day. He never had any symptoms. He didn’t feel ill.

Soon all of our to-do lists were relegated to the garbage can. Instead of our usual work and social activities, our schedules were crammed with doctor visits, tests, and treatments. Our over-packed lives had to make room for more important things. I personally needed to weed out the frivolous to find time for what was necessary—being available for my husband….

The Trouble With Living For Applause

Sharla June 2, 2015

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?

Why You Need to Change Your Focus

Sharla May 7, 2015

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.

Finding Focus — in Lent

Sharla February 17, 2015

I’m on a quest to find more focus in my life. To zero in on the important and to ignore the rest.

To help me in this quest I am going to observe the holy Lenten season. Lent is the period of forty days leading up to Easter (Sundays are not included in the count.) It is a period of focusing on Christ and His enormous sacrifice and boundless love for us. During this time we can abandon the frivolous and concentrate on the eternal. It can be a season of transformation as we pull our chair closer to hear God’s words to us.

Three tools I am going to use to concentrate on the spiritual during this time are:

Fasting. The whole idea of forty days of Lent may have been inspired by Jesus’ forty-day fast before He began His earthly ministry. But please don’t try this at home. Fasting as a spiritual discipline can have life-changing effects, but forty days is extreme. Try fasting one day a week during this season of Lent. Or give up a favorite food or activity for forty days. In the past I have abstained from chocolate, ice cream, TV watching and shopping. When I do this kind of focused fast I am reminded of Jesus’ sacrifice every time I deny myself a simple pleasure.

Bible study. Lean in to hear God speak by spending more time in His Word during the next forty days. There are many ways to do this. My Bible studies Soul Spa, Divine Design and Bless These Lips are designed to be completed in 40 days. This year I am leading a journey through practicing Spiritual Disciplines. My daughter and her husband have written a family Lenten devotional.

I have been praying about how God would like me to spend time in His Word these 40 days. Continuing with my theme of focus, I have decided to concentrate on one book of the Bible. Philippians seems the perfect book as it talks about Christ’s sacrifice and becoming more like Him. I am going to prayerfully read this book every day of Lent asking God to change me through His Word.

Focus on Christ. Fasting and Bible study can become merely rituals of Lent. If we’re not concentrating on Christ, they are only outward habits that will not transform our souls. But if I recall Jesus’ sacrifice when I turn down that piece of three-layer chocolate cake, my heart can be content with God’s presence. If I listen for the Holy Spirit’s voice as I read the Word, He can satisfy my soul.

Jesus is ready to bless you with joy, love, and transforming grace. Receive His blessings. Look for Him in the ordinary moments of this Lenten season. Hear His voice speak His care for you in His Word.

Three Steps To Take When Life Punches You In The Gut

Sharla February 3, 2015

What do you do when life punches you in the gut? When circumstances deliver a devastating blow?

2014 was a joyous year for us. Our son got married to a wonderful young woman. Our daughter and her family flew from China to join in the wedding. They spent two months here in the states–we had abundant opportunities to play with our grandchildren.

Then 2015 arrived–with news of cancer. My husband John was diagnosed with lymphoma. For months we reeled from this punch. Sometimes life hits you hard and you are totally unprepared.

I know that we are not the only ones who have been hit hard. Some of you have experienced your own illnesses, chronic pain, job losses, and financial difficulties. Maybe even all of these at once.

This leg of our journey wasn’t our most joyful, but this is how we tried to handle this devastating blow. In addition to finding the best doctors and medical care: I:

1. I found comfort in God’s Word. I searched through Scripture, hunting down all God’s promises of His presence and peace. Some of my favorites:

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him. Romans 15:13
My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest. Exodus 33:14
Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear. Isaiah 65:24

2. I called on others to stand with us in prayer. It was hard to tell people the difficult news. We often broke down in a puddle of tears. Yet we felt incredible love and support from our church, our family, and our friends. One couple invited us over for chicken soup with a side of prayer when we first heard the news. Church members gave us innumerable hugs. A simple request for prayer on Facebook drew 100 comments.

3. I took time each day to focus on what really matters. Each year I choose one word for the year. Ironically, that year I chose the word focus . Well, there is nothing like shocking news to make you focus on what is truly important. At times, this was as simple as just sitting with my wonderful hubby and holding his hand. It was as uncomplicated as sitting quietly and soaking in God’s love.

I pray that our heavenly Father will strengthen you in whatever you are going through today. When life punches you in the gut, may these three simple steps help you find strength in the One who loves you and is holding your hand.

And if you’re interested in learning more about how to find focus in troubled times, check out my book Distracted: Finding Faith-Focus Habits in a Frenzied World. This book is a compilation of all the lessons I learned during that difficult year. The e-book is only $3.99!