Blog Archives - COACH Toby Schwarz

COACH Toby Schwarz

Pray First!

5/29/2020

“Listen to my voice in the morning Lord. Each morning I will bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.” Psalm 5:3

We all wake up with worries. As the day goes on, we have worries and they often grow. We need to get ahead of the curve and start the day with prayer and continue the day with prayer and God will take care of what we pray for.

Lord, help me to wake up and pray before I open my eyes.

Love Through Empathy!

5/28/2020

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Romans 12:15

Empathy is defined as "the ability to understand and share the feelings of another." We may not fully understand or even agree with others. But we are called to have empathy. Empathy is how we can love.

Lord, help me to be empathetic.

Ahead!

5/27/2020

“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14

Whatever is ahead of us can be either scary (because we don't know what is going to happen) or exciting (because we have anticipation for what can happen). The lack of trust makes things scary and the presence of hope makes things exciting.

Lord, help me to choose hope and strain toward what is ahead.

Response = Responsibility!

5/26/2020

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” Romans 12:1

We have a variety of responsibilities throughout our life. Our response demonstrates our responsibility. One response to God's mercy is to be responsible in how we live.

Lord, help me to respond and to be responsible and to demonstrate responsibility because You have shown me mercy.

Loner!

5/22/2020

“Two are better than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.” Ecclesiastes 4:9

A lot of us like to "go it alone". We may be introverted or simply enjoy doing our "own thing". Being self-sufficient is admirable and useful and even beneficial at certain times in our life. However, it is not what God necessarily intended. God intends us to be relational. We are to have a relationship with him, and with others.

Lord, help me to value relationships with others and with You!

Plan To Be Flexible!

5/21/2020

“You can make plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.” Proverbs 19:21

Planning ahead is wise. Listening to God's plan is more wised.

Lord, help me to be prepared but also to be open to hear what You have planned for me.

Words AND Actions!

5/20/2020

“…Let us not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.” 1 John 3:18

Amen!

Stop to Do Good!

5/19/2020

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. James 3:17-18

We all aspire to do good. However, how intentional are we about doing good? How often do we stop to think if our words and actions are peace-loving, considerate, submissive and full of mercy ... compared to our words and actions being self serving.

Lord, help me to stop and think about who my words and actions are benefiting.

Opportunities To Love!

5/18/2020

“No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends.”– John 15:13

Dying for someone is the ultimate sacrifice. None of us will end up going to this length (not by choice but primarily by opportunity). However, there are other ways to sacrifice for someone you love. Not arguing with them. Allowing them to have their choice when it really doesn't matter. Being kind when getting angry is easier. Basically, being less selfish is how we can love others.

Lord, help me to love better by being less selfish.

"How" Matters!

5/14/2020

"Do you not know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win." 1 Corinthians 9:24

"What" we accomplish is definitely important. "How" we accomplish it is probably more important. The "How" completely defines the "What".

Lord, help me to run in such a way so my how doesn't ruin the what.