Blog Archives - COACH Toby Schwarz

COACH Toby Schwarz

Value Means Everything!

4/28/2017

The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? Psalm 118:6

I lost a pen the other day. I didn't care. I misplaced a quarter. No big deal. I tore a hole in a pair of shorts. They were nearly 15 years old and this was not the first hole. I threw them out. I busted a tail light on my new car. I was upset. I obviously valued one thing more than the others. We care about things we value. The more the value, the more we care.

Lord, help me to value You more and value what You think about me more than I care about what others think about me.

The Bottom?!

4/27/2017

To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you, LORD my God, brought my life up from the pit. Jonah 2:6

Look around, it could be worse. This doesn't mean that what we are going through isn't difficult, but it could be worse. Our challenges aren't any less important than someone else's, but they could be worse. We often think that we are at "the bottom" and life is out of control. The truth is that we rarely get to "the bottom". God typically steps in before we get to "the bottom". He won't give us more than we can handle. But even if we do get to "the bottom", he will lift us up.

Lord, thank you for always protecting me from myself and when I feel I am without any hope, you are always there.

Full Disclosure!

4/26/2017

“Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.” Acts 5:20

When telling a story, we may leave out some details due to various reasons which include time or limited space or slow thumbs on the I-Phone or because we feel the information we leave out isn't important or the specific facts may water down the story or we may simply forget some of the facts. Regardless of the reason, we rarely tell the complete story. When it comes to God and the Good News of Jesus, we should not leave anything out.

Lord, help me to tell the entire story, with words, but also with the actions of my life.

"AH HA" Moment?!

4/25/2017

For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. 1 Corinthians 1:25

At want point will we finally come to the conclusion that God is much more capable than we are? At what point will we stop trying to do things on our own and start to rely more on God? At what point will we realize that we aren't as cool as we think we are? I hope that time is soon.

Lord, I am sorry for failing to succumb to the reality that You know more and can do more than me.

Consistency!

4/24/2017

I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him. Ecclesiastes 3:14

People may argue about the most important characteristic of God. Grace? Peace? All Knowing? Unconditional Love? To me, above all else, what I admire and cherish most about God is that He is consistent. In a world that is anything but consistent, God is always the same and His predictability provides peace and comfort.

Lord, thank You for being consistent so that it is logical to trust You.

RSVP!

4/21/2017

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life." Revelations 22:17

We have been invited. All we need to do is accept the invitation.

Lord, thank you for wanting me.

The Wrong Finish Line!

4/20/2017

David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished." 1 Chronicles 28:20

A finish line is a finish line. It is the line at the finish. Unfortunately, sometimes athletes create their own "finish line" in their head. That "fabricated finish line" usually lies before the actual finish line. It is common to witness athletes in races or conditioning slow down before the finish. They stop before the work is done. They create their own definition of "finishing", instead of using the actual finish. The same is true in many aspects of our life. We tend to fabricate what we believe to be the "finish" but only God knows where the finish line is located and it is our job to keep working until He says it is done.

Lord, help me to focus on the work to be done and not be distracted by the fake finish lines that I create.

Keeping IT Real!

4/19/2017

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:16

The biggest problem with social media (and there are many) is that the image portrayed is the "aspirational" image and not a true depiction of a person. The content (photos and words) are completely controlled and edited in a way to put the person's best foot forward. If the photos and comments on Instagram and Facebook were accurate, they would include pictures of zits on our face and fat pockets on our backs and misspoken words and words depicting a jealous and selfish person that isn't always smiling or loving everyone and everything.

Lord, help me to be honest with You as you don't want the person I aspire to be but You want me to aspire to be a real person with You and myself.

Can't Contain It!

4/18/2017

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6-7

When something overflows, it is hard to stop it from getting all over the things around it.

Lord, help me to overflow with Thankfulness for all that you have given me and allow that thankfulness to get all over those around me.

ChalkBoards!

4/17/2017

“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. Isaiah 1:18

Back in "the day", you could write all over a chalkboard and after mistakes were made or when you were finished, you could erase your work. However, we all remember the remaining residue. The chalkboard was never truly clean after using the chalk and erasing it with an eraser. It was only completely clean when the teacher or janitor after school took a wet rag and washed the chalkboard. We showed up the next morning to a clean canvas. God washes our chalkboard with water. Unfortunately, we tend to see our "chalkboard" simply erased with the eraser and the chalk residue still remains.

Lord, help me to see things as You do and see the completely washed and clean life that You provide through grace.