Blog Archives - COACH Toby Schwarz

COACH Toby Schwarz

Seasons Of Life!

3/31/2025

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Ecclesiastes 3:1

Life is not and will not be an upward trajectory to the right on an XY axis. The sooner that we realize and embrace that life is a rollercoaster with ups and downs, the sooner we will realize and understand that our goal in life is to maintain a constant and consistent and level attitude when riding that rollercoaster. The plants need sun but also need rain. The soil needs a break from growing in order for the soil to replenish nutrients. Expecting only happy times or expecting to remain in tough times is not helpful or accurate. We must trust God and appreciate the time that we are in, good or bad, because soon we will be in a new time that will be different.

Lord, thank You for providing a life full of change and new experiences, and help me to understand that it is all part of Your plan, even when it isn't part of my plan.

Instilling Courage!

3/28/2025

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up.”1 Thessalonians 5:11

Strength in the face of fear or pain or grief. Bravery. Having courage is a good thing. Having courage is a valuable thing. Having courage is something we can muster up ourselves or it is something we can have given to us by those who take the time and make the effort to instill us with courage.

Lord, thank You for Your unending encouragement and help me to encourage others.

Apples and ...

3/27/2025

“His faithful love endures forever.” Psalm 136:1b

Unfortunately, we tend to place our limitations on God. Humans are not very consistent, trustworthy, resilient, loyal, or anything else that requires effort over time. God is not us. That is why He is God and we are in need of God. When God says that His love endures forever, He means FOREVER!

Lord, I am sorry for thinking You are just a better version of me, when You are playing chess and I am over here eating paste.

Love Language!

3/26/2025

“Do everything in love.” – 1 Corinthians 16:14

A popular book came out in 1992 that proposed that there are 5 Love Languages - Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Physical Touch, Acts of Service, Receiving Gifts.

Lord, thanks for loving me and help me to love others and not simply seek ways for them to love me.

Less Is More!

3/25/2025

“The Lord will fight for you, and you must be quiet.” Exodus 14:14

I am not a "sit around and let life happen" type of person. When faced with challenges, I like to lean in and attack the problem. This is mainly due to my natural inclination toward laziness. If I had my way, I would rather sit and do nothing, so to combat that laziness, I do the opposite extreme. Ironically, often times the best solution is to slow down and wait, if during that waiting, we seek God's wisdom and allow Him to work along side and with us.

Lord, please give me the wisdom to be patient when I need patience, and to attack the problem when that is the best solution.

Hopeful Hope!

3/24/2025

"'For I know the plans I have for you’—this is the Lord's declaration—'plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.'" Jeremiah 29:11

Love Others!

3/19/2025

"so that you show sincere brotherly love for each other, from a pure heart love one another constantly.” 1 Peter 1:22b

I wish God would quit telling me to be nice to other people. I don't want to.

Lord, help me to realize that I am hard to love by both You and others but I am still loved so although I may not always demonstrate my love to You or properly love others, help me because it is nearly impossible to do on my own.

Attitude is a Choice!

3/18/2025

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Philippians 4.4

Joy is an attitude. Joy is not determined by our current situation or circumstances. Joy is a a choice. It is difficult to choose joy a lot of the time. But when we choose Jesus, it is easier to choose joy.

Lord, help me to choose joy today!

What Did You Expect?!

3/17/2025

“They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as any had need. Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. Every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.” Acts 2:45-47

If you expect that all of your stuff is truly "your stuff" and not "God's Stuff that he lets you borrow", then when you break something or it is lost or stolen or simply doesn't work, it is natural to be upset. If you expect to have more than you have, instead of being grateful for what you are allowed to have, then it is natural to be jealous or wanting. If you expect your time to be your own, to use how you want and when you want, then it is natural to be bothered or inconvenienced when required to do anything you don't want to do. If you expect to be full all of the time, it is natural to feel "hangry" when the drive thru line has two cars or it is taking 30 more seconds to cook your fries, that are now fresh instead of sitting in the fryer for 10 minutes.

Lord, help me to have Goals and not Expectations and help me to see what I have as being a gift from You and not something that I am owed or entitled to.

Be a Good Friend!

3/14/2025

“Don’t plead with me to abandon you or to return and not follow you.” Ruth 1:16a

After Ruth's husband died, her mother in law (who lost her husband and all her sons in battle) told Ruth to go back to her own home town and find a new husband. Instead, Ruth committed to stay with her lonely and grieving mother-in-law and accompany her back to her home town, a place she knew no one. Unfortunately, we won't even help someone move a couch unless we have nothing better to do that day.

Lord, help me to be a better friend and more sacrificial and less selfish toward others in need.