Blog Archives - COACH Toby Schwarz

COACH Toby Schwarz

Everlasting

4/22/2014

I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” John 10:28-30 NIV

The glass isn’t half empty or half full. The glass is overflowing. There is not one bit of uncertainty. There are no exceptions. There is only one condition. Accept Christ and you will never perish … ever.

Lord, thank You for the gift that keeps on giving.

Action...

4/11/2014

“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter2:24 NIV

Our actions have consequences. Those consequences usually impact ourselves or others and often times both. We sometimes see the consequences of our actions on ourselves. Completely appreciating the consequences that our actions have on others is sometimes very difficult. Christ died on the cross to save us from our own actions. Our actions no longer have consequences for us but our actions will always impact Him.

Lord, help me to see how my actions impact those around me and also how those actions often times impact You.

Filter...

4/10/2014

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:6-8 NIV

It is easier to do things for someone you know and like or even for someone you don’t know but they are likeable. It is nearly impossible to do something for someone you know who you don’t like or for someone who you don’t know at all and seems unlikeable … unless you see people as God sees us.

Lord, help me to have the filter that sees people the way You see me and give me the strength to help and love people the way You help and love me.

Forgiven...

4/9/2014

The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. Hebrews 1:3 NIV

Our sins have been forgiven by God through Christ. This is the ultimate “get out of jail free” card.

Lord, thank you for forgiving my sins so that I may be with you forever.

Unconditional love...

4/8/2014

For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Romans 5:10 NIV

In other words, we weren’t tight with God, and in fact, we were very distant from Him, yet He made the biggest sacrifice ever for us because He loved us unconditionally. So now that we are tight with Him, why shouldn’t we believe that He can see past our issues and love us still.

Lord, thank you for loving me always and especially when I need to be loved.

Crucified...

4/7/2014

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 NIV

When we make that initial decision to follow Christ, there should be a change in the way we behave. Christ comes in and there should be less room (or no room) for our old self. And each day after that first, we should continue to be intentional and “die” a little more each day from our previous life and transform more to the life that Christ died for so He can fully indwell in us, without us taking up space.

Lord, I made the decision once to follow You and now I recommit each day to die a little bit more and be different than the way I once was.

Perfect0r...

4/3/2014

Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2 NIV

Our faith is not our own. Jesus began our faith journey (He is the pioneer that blazed the trail). Jesus will complete our faith (that is what perfecter means). He started it and He will finish it and it is up to us to do the work in between with the freeing knowledge that we aren’t expected to do it all or do it alone.

Lord, thank You that I don’t have to buy the groceries, make the meal, eat it all, and do the dishes all on my own.

Who is God?

4/2/2014

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. Psalm 14:1 NIV

What is the purpose of life if God doesn’t exist? Where does hope come from if not from God? Why would so many people have the same feeling about a God if there weren’t a God? How does one explain the unexplainable if it weren’t for God? Who is God … He is the purpose of life, the source of Hope, the One who fills the gaps in our soul and answers the questions that we don’t know to ask.

God, thank you for existing and giving meaning, hope and completion to my life.