Blog Archives - COACH Toby Schwarz

COACH Toby Schwarz

Arrogance!

1/30/2020

“Don’t boast about tomorrow, for you don’t know what a day might bring.” Proverbs 27:1

Nothing demonstrates our arrogance, egotism and selfishness more than our belief that we know what is going to happen tomorrow. When we feel we know what to expect, we fail to understand what God can do. We fail to see how much God has control of our lives and the events that surround us, and we also fail to see how little control we have.

Lord, forgive me for thinking I know what is going to happen and for expecting things to happen the way I want instead of happening the way you want.

Attitude Is Everything!

1/29/2020

"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances." Philippians 4:11

Our circumstances are uncertain, unpredictable, and often times, unwanted. We may not have a choice about our circumstances, but we always have the choice about our attitude. Contentment is an attitude that arises from having peace.

Lord, help me to have peace and thus contentment.

Always Get Better!

1/28/2020

"Go to the ant, you slacker! Observe its ways and become wise." Proverbs 6:6

We can all get better. None of us have reached our full potential. We can all work harder, do more, be better.

Lord, help me to avoid being complacent and feeling as if I have arrived already.

Time To Harvest!

1/24/2020

“…Open your eyes and look at the fields, for they are ready for harvest.” John 4:35

Planting and pruning and watering and weeding have little purpose if we don't eventually harvest the crop. We are called to help others to know who Jesus is and what He has done for us. It is a responsibility that requires intentional actions. One of those actions is to eventually give our friends and family, or whomever we are sharing the Good News with, an opportunity to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

Lord, help me to recognize if there are those around me that are ready to make the most valuable decision they will ever make.

Give, Don't Pay!

1/22/2020

“… not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing …” 1 Peter 3:9

When we feel as if we have been wronged or hurt in some way, instead of trying to get even or instead of trying to "pay back", we should GIVE. Paybacks only perpetuate the cycle that hurt us more. Giving will stop the cycle and it will at least be the right thing to do and it will most likely benefit us as well.

Lord, help me to be generous instead of bitter.

Humility Defined!

1/21/2020

"For who makes you so superior? What do you have that you didn’t receive? If, in fact, you did receive it, why do you boast as if you hadn’t received it?" 1 Corinthians 4:7

Anything we have and anything that we are, is a gift from God.

Lord, thank you for making me who I am.

Running On Empty!

1/20/2020

"Because of the LORD’s faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness! I say: The LORD is my portion, therefore I will put my hope in Him." Lamentations 3:22–24

It is hard to fathom that something never runs out of fuel. We do. Our car does. Our passions do. Nearly every aspect of our life has a level of decline or depletion, especially when we aren't plugged in to a source of power. We need to refuel our bodies and our automobiles because they aren't plugged in to anything. God never needs to refuel. However, we need to refuel to Him. We need our battery charged, unless we plug in our cord and keep it plugged in to Him.

Lord, thank you for being a constant source of power and help me to stay plugged in to You.

24 Hour Life!

1/16/2020

You don’t even know what tomorrow will bring—what your life will be! For you are a bit of smoke that appears for a little while, then vanishes. James 4:14

Imagine your life was only 24 hours long. A minute would have a lot of value. Each moment would be a unique opportunity. We wouldn't be able to guarantee another equal moment tomorrow because tomorrow wouldn't exist.

Lord, help me to value each day and more importantly, each opportunity that I have.

No One Else!

1/15/2020

“There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people, and we must be saved by it.” Acts 4:12

No one. No thing. No place. No nothing. Jesus alone is our salvation. We can't buy our way out. We can "good" our way out. We will never be good enough. Jesus alone will save us from our sin.

Lord, I believe in you and a thank you for your saving grace.

Give Until It Feels Good!

1/8/2020

“But it must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.” Mark 10: 43

"Give, but give until it hurts" is a quote attributed to Mother Teresa and became a common slogan in the last century. The slogan was used to motivate people to donate to a cause and donate enough that the donor actually notices the amount given, to the point they must sacrifice something. God realizes that serving is hard but also realizes that serving benefits the servant even more than those being served. We need to give and serve more than we may think in order to see the fruits of our service.

Lord, help me to have a servant heart and not to put limits on the amount I serve.