Blog Archives - COACH Toby Schwarz

COACH Toby Schwarz

Opportunity!

2/28/2019

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful, and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape, so that you are able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

Temptation is not a sin. Temptation is an opportunity to do what is right. We need to take advantage of the opportunity given to us.

Lord, help me to take the right path when confronted with the choice of two paths with one being right and one being wrong.

Cost-Benefit Analysis!

2/27/2019

"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." Romans 8:18

Comparing the benefits with the costs to determine the decision to be made. We often weigh the costs with the benefits. Unfortunately, we often undervalue the benefits and overvalue the costs. This inaccurate valuation results in an improper decision to be made. Knowing God and being with God is more valuable than any cost we can incur.

Lord, help me to value You more than anything else.

IKEA? I-CAN'T-A!

2/26/2019

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

I have never been to an IKEA, nor do I ever plan to purchase anything from IKEA. I know my strengths and weaknesses and one of my weaknesses is assembling anything that requires a tool and/or more than two steps in the instructions. Maybe it is lack of patience. Maybe it is lack of intelligence. Maybe it is that I am not very good at following plans. It isn't IKEA's fault that I can't build their Armoire. However, that won't stop me from blaming them for having poor plans.

Lord, help me to realize that the poor execution of Your plans does not equate to Your plans being wrong or inferior to my plan.

Plan Ahead!

2/25/2019

Instead, train yourself to be godly. "Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come." 1 Timothy 4:7b-8

There are areas of our life where we make plans and then there are areas in our life where we merely show up. In the areas that we make plans, two things happen: 1) It shows us that the area is important enough for us to take time and think ahead, and 2) the plan provides a more intentional path toward success. When we merely show up, it demonstrates our lack of commitment, and we also leave too much to chance.

Lord, help me to value my faith enough to plan ahead.

Accomplishments!

2/22/2019

"But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus-work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God." Acts 20:24

Job titles. Awards. Salaries. Status. Followers. Likes. Achievements of all kinds. None of these things are worth as much as telling one person about Jesus.

Lord, help me to value telling others about You more than any other accomplishment.

Anchor!

2/21/2019

"Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won't collapse because it is built on bedrock." Matthew 7:24-25

Anchors are intended to keep things in place. An anchor on a boat or an anchor in the construction of a building are both used to keep the objects safe. Some anchors fail. Some anchors are not as strong as other anchors. What is your anchor? Is your anchor your own ability and wisdom? How strong is that compared to God's strength and His wisdom?

Lord, help me to use You and Your vast wisdom and ability to be my anchor and foundation.

Ask Siri. Ask Alexa. Ask God!

2/20/2019

"I raise my eyes toward the mountains.
Where will my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth." Psalm 121:1-2

Amen!

Not About Us!

2/19/2019

"Come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker." Psalm 95:6

Worship isn't about us. Most things aren't about us. We are blessed to be free and to not be slaves and to have a lot of choice and ownership in our lives. But that blessing of freedom shouldn't give us a false sense that we are meant to be selfish and independent. Our live should not be about us and our selfish desires. Life is meant to be about God and others.

Lord, help me to realize that life alone is lonely and life with you and others is full.

Faith IS Works!

2/18/2019

Jesus told them "This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one He has sent" John 6:29

Often debated ... "Faith or Works". According to Jesus, the answer is that faith is works. We need to put in the effort to believe and then that belief will eventually produce actions that are pleasing to God.

Lord, help me to believe in a way that clearly manifests in my actions.

Who Cares?!

2/15/2019

"Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, "Teacher, don't you care that we're going to drown?" Mark 4:38

God cares! God cares more about us than we care about Him. God cares about us more than we care about ourselves. Most importantly, God cares about the things that are worth caring about. We often focus on the wrong things and put too much value in the areas of our life that are inconsequential. We care about the storm and all the wind and the noise. We don't care enough about people and God.

Lord, thank you for loving me and help me to love the you and others, more.