Blog Archives - COACH Toby Schwarz

COACH Toby Schwarz

Interpretation!

1/31/2023

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” John 14:6

You don't need the "Babbel" app to figure out what this verse says.

Lord, thanks for making things extremely clear so I don't screw it up by trying to interpret things so it fits my lifestyle.

Check Me Out!

1/30/2023

“Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people.”- Colossians 3:23

Since the dawn of time, there have been "Check me out" guys and gals. Times haven't changed.

Lord, help me to realize that You matter more than the slight amount of fake attention I may get from five people I don't know.

Endure - Ance!

1/29/2023

“Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us,” Hebrews 12:1

We read the word "endurance" and immediately think of running. That either is a pleasant thought or it makes us cringe and blank out and move on to more pleasant things. Endurance comes from "Endure" which means to "suffer patiently" and "remain in existence". Life, similar to running, requires us to "suffer patiently" if we are going to do it well. Life, similar to running, requires us to "remain in existence" in order to achieve our goals and purposes.

Lord, I may adverse to running but I should never be adverse to the concept of being patient in my suffering and please help me to realize that I must remain in existence in order to be complete and fulfill my purposes, which are Your purposes.

You Look Like your Dog!

1/27/2023

“Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2

It's interesting when you see a person and they sometimes look like their dog. Even more interesting and somewhat scary, husbands and wives, who are not related (hopefully), tend to start to look similar, dress similarly, and talk similarly. Humans are great at adapting to our environment. Over time, cold weather isn't as cold anymore. Hot weather isn't as hot. That smell just isn't that noticeable. If this is true, we need to be more mindful about our environment and who we choose to be around.

Lord, help me to be wise about where I am and who I am around so that when I change, I change into the person You want me to be.

Go To Bed!!!

1/26/2023

“Weeping may stay overnight, but there is joy in the morning.” Psalm 30:5b

We were all kids at one point in our life. Our parents told us to go to bed. When we melted down, they told us to "GO TO BED!!!!!!!" because all parents know that after a good nights sleep, or even a bad nights sleep, the fact that your sister is in the bathroom taking too long or you can't find your favorite stuffed animal, is not equivalent to an asteroid smashing into earth.

Lord, help me to realize the truth that we are all taught from day one ... night time is always rougher than the morning and that You will always provide what we need and not what we want and that need is sometimes a simple blessing of sleep and perspective.

Nothing ...

1/25/2023

“Let us not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up.” Galatians 6:9

Nothing is more frustrating or discouraging than doing good in general or doing good specifically for others and then not seeing the return on that goodness. Nothing is more humbling and embarrassing than when that return eventually arrives at the exact right time and in exceeding amounts.

Lord, Your timing is nothing but perfect.

Who's Plan?!

1/24/2023

“The plans of the diligent certainly lead to profit, but anyone who is reckless certainly becomes poor.” Proverbs 21:5

Planning has value. "Failing to Plan is Planning to Fail". Along with the existence of a plan, the quality of the plan also matters. Besides the existence and relative quality of the plan, the purpose of the plan is essential. When it is "our" plan, compared to "God's Plan", we may as well not have a plan at all.

Lord, help me to realize that a plan that does not take You and Your ways into consideration may as well not be a plan at all.

I'm Walking Here!

1/22/2023

“Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise.” Ephesians 5:15

99.9% of the world will not get the "I'm walking here" reference and the clip from the movie has some coarse language and hand gestures, so it is not included. However, the 15 second clip from "Midnight Cowboy" is a great example of the manner in which we "walk" will revel our true character.

Lord, help me to "walk" with the type of character You value.

Worthy and Valuable!

1/18/2023

“Yet for us there is one God, the Father. All things are from him, and we exist for him. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ. All things are through him, and we exist through him.” 1 Corinthians 8:6

We all know people who struggle in life. They struggle with their self-worth - they don't feel worthy. Or they struggle with their self-esteem - they don't feel that they are valuable. They obviously have never read this verse or they simply don't believe it is true.

Lord, help me to trust that Your word is true and that I am from You so I have value and that I have worth because I have a purpose, because I exist for You.

Command-Meants!

1/17/2023

“Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

Commands are ordered! We are often ordered to do things because we typically won't do them on our own. God commands us when He knows we should do it but won't. God commands us to be strong and courageous. God commands us to not be afraid or discouraged. If we don't think it is worth doing or not, then we need to forget about our own desires and do what God tells us to do.

Lord, thank You for taking away the confusion or guesswork and help me to be obedient.