Blog Archives - COACH Toby Schwarz

COACH Toby Schwarz

Scary Movie!

4/29/2022

“Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.” Joshua 1:8

We've all watched a scary movie and then had some wild nightmares that night. We have all eaten too much pizza and woken up feeling like we got punched in the stomach. We all have put antifreeze in the windshield soap container by mistake (ok, maybe just me). It is a scientific fact that what goes in will typically result in something similar on it's way out. If life isn't going the way we anticipated, we need to look at what we are doing, what we are consuming, what we are reading, what we are listening to and what we are allowing to influence our lives because "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." Either Einstein or Mark Twain or an old Chinese Proverb or somewhere else.

Lord, help me spend more time consuming You and less time consuming the crap that I am letting others to feed me.

Stuff!

4/27/2022

“You must not have any other god but me.” Exodus 20:3

Jobs, Education, Relationships, Sports, Financial Security, Influence, Followers, Likes, Games, Vacations, Homes, Cars, Appearance, Image, Food, Goals, Lake Cabins, Leadership Roles, Upward Mobility, Impressing Others, Pleasing Everyone, Identity, Fitness, Perfectionism, Fear of Failure, Doubt, Jealousy, Insecurity. All of this is stuff that we value more than a relationship with the only One who can save us and also save us from ourselves and all of this stuff.

Lord, thank You that I am able to have some of these things but help me to not put them before You because none of this stuff will save me.

Want More?!

4/24/2022

"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need." Matthew 6:33

Want more? Need more? Desire more? Think you deserve more? Wish you had more? Frustrated, jealous, bitter, angry or depressed because others seem to always have more? Wondering if you will ever get more? Uncertain about whether more is the answer? God doesn't necessarily care about what you want or what you think you need. God will give you all you need.

Lord, help me to realize that when I make life more about You and less about me, You give me more than I deserve.

Overtime!

4/20/2022

“If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.” Romans 10:9-10

It is amazing what a person will do to provide for their family or to obtain wealth so that they can have what they want. Working overtime, working two jobs, working long hours and weekend. It is equally amazing what our pride prevents us from doing in order to save ourselves. Saying the words and making the heart choice that will save us ends up being much more difficult than working 60 hours a week.

Lord, help me to see that my salvation is at least equally important as providing for my earthly needs.

"Crisitunity!"

4/19/2022

“For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!” 2 Corinthians 4:17

The Japanese word for "Crisis" is made up of two Chinese characters. The first means "dangerous" and the second means "opportunity". There is some debate on what this means but on the surface, how different would our lives be if we saw our troubles in life as an opportunity.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yY-P3D63Z18

Lord, help me to see my problems as an opportunity to learn and be better.

"I'm Friends With ..."

4/18/2022

“They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshipped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.” Romans 1:25

The "I'm friends with ..." game has been around since the time of the dinosaurs. "You know the guy who created fire, well I know him, we go to the same waterhole". In middle school, "well my dad's boss's cousin knows the backup guitarist for AC/DC". This always lead to another age old game of "topping". "Well, I know the guy at the movie theater and he can sneak us in the back door to watch movies for free". There is only one way to win this game. "That's cool. I know the One who created all of those people. God. Ever heard of Him?"

Lord, help me to be more excited about knowing You than tangentially knowing someone you created.

I Know!

4/17/2022

"Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 3:18a

"Knowing about" and "Knowing" are not the same thing. We all know "about" some people and can quote facts about their life and achievements. How well do we actually KNOW someone? Do we simply know where they went to college or do we know what makes them happy or sad? Do we know their goals and desires? Do we know what hurts them or scares them? God doesn't want us to know "about" Him. God deeply desires for us to KNOW Him through the saving grace of Jesus.

Lord, thank You for giving Your life on the cross so that I may know YOU and because I KNOW YOU, I am able to KNOW God.

"Like LIke"?!

4/13/2022

“Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful and endures through every circumstance.” 1 Corinthians 13:7

Remember in elementary school when your friend would say, "I like ..." And you would respond, "Do you 'Like Like' or just 'Like' them?" Then by the second recess, that same friend would say, "I can't stand them, they are a big booger". Thankfully we all grow up and mature and realize that elementary school crushes are far from the love that God calls us to have for others.

Lord, help me to "Love Love" others and not simply like them because that will fade quickly as an elementary school crush.

Has to Happen!

4/12/2022

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free.” Luke 4:18

In order for Sunday to happen, Friday must happen first. We all need to realize that Good News is only Good News because bad news exists. If life were all Good News, it would just be news and not that special.

Lord, help me to realize that in order to be released, I have to be captive first ... but I will be released.

Limit Less!

4/10/2022

"Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.” I Timothy 4:12

Most people underestimate their ability and underestimate what God can do through and with them.

Lord, help me to realize that You wouldn't have created me to be useless but You have created me to be useful and I am more than capable to do more than I believe I can.