Blog Archives - COACH Toby Schwarz

COACH Toby Schwarz

Aerobic Training!

1/31/2018

"Therefore since we also have such a large crowd of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus." Hebrews 12:1-2

A 100m race is completely anaerobic. In other words, the race is so short, you don't need endurance. You may pass out afterwards if you aren't in shape but you don't need endurance to sprint 100m. However, longer races require aerobic capacity (endurance). We need to approach life as if it is longer than 100m. We need to also train for life as if it is longer than 100m.

Lord, help me to have endurance but also to not be afraid to train to have endurance.

Dirt Doesn't Taste Good!

1/30/2018

"The kingdom of God is like this," He said. "A man scatters seed on the ground; he sleeps and rises-night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows-he doesn't know how. The soil produces a crop by itself-first the blade, then the head, and then the ripe grain on the head. But as soon as the crop is ready, he sends for the sickle, because harvest has come." Mark 4:26-29

Put a seed in the ground and then water it. The next day, scoop up the wet dirt and seed and eat it. I learned as a kid that dirt may look good, but it doesn't taste good. I also learned a little later in life that anything worth having takes time. Sure, it feels great when we receive something we want in a surprisingly fast amount of time. However, we tend to not value it as much as something we worked long and hard for.

Lord, help me to be patient.

Who's Is THat?

1/29/2018

"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." 2 Corinthians 12:9

When my daughters struggle to share, I ask them "Who's toy is that". They reply "Mine". I then ask them "who got the toy for you" and they correctly reply, "My Daddy". I wonder if I respond the same way when God asks me about the things that I have and is frustrated when I don't share as much as I should.

Lord, thank you for providing me with more than I deserve and help me to realize that everything comes from You and I need to share better.

God Given!

1/26/2018

"For God gave us a spirit not of fear, but of power, and love, and self-control."
2 Timothy 1:7

God has given us a lot of stuff. He has also not given us things that we have instead acquired on our own. We need to value those things that He has given us and get rid of the things in our life that we have acquired on our own and for our own selfish purposes.

Lord, thank you for gifts of power and love and self-control and help me to use those to rid my life of things like jealousy and greed and fear.

Feel Like It!

1/25/2018

"So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want." Galatians 5:16-17

If a child does something wrong and we ask that child "Why did you do that?" and that child responds, "Because I felt like it", we would not take that as an acceptable answer. We may even reply, "feeling like it is not a reason for doing something wrong". And then God laughs at us.

Lord, forgive me for using the "I feel like it" justification for not obeying You.

Worth Having!

1/24/2018

"A man who endures trials is blessed, because when he passes the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him." James 1:12

Anything worth having will not come easy.

Lord, help me to be patient and to have resilience.

Never Good Enough!

1/23/2018

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23

Work harder. Do better. Be Better! No matter how hard we work or how much better we may be, we can never reach the standard that God has set for us in terms of being completely free from sin.

Lord, thank you for Your grace through Jesus.

WHO ... not WHAT!

1/22/2018

"Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men." Colossians 3:23

I often explain to my student and athletes that the "what" is not as important as the "why". "Why" we do "what" we do is more important than the "what" itself. "Who" we do it for is also more important than "what" we do.

Lord, help me do for others and when I do, help me to do it as if I am doing it for You.

Remake!

1/19/2018

"I will praise You because I have been remarkably and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, and I know this very well." Psalm 139:14

We are not "man-made", nor are we "self-made". We are "God-Made". We need to realize that God made us and He never makes a mistake.

Lord, thank you for making me for a purpose.

Not Yet!

1/18/2018

"With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and stay alert in this, with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints." Ephesians 6:18

There is a big difference between "No" and "Not Yet". We need to pray and pray believing that God will answer our prayers. And then we need to recognize that when the prayer is not answered, it is not because God said "no" but instead, He is saying "not yet".

Lord, thank you for answering prayers and help me to be patient and to persevere.