Blog Archives - COACH Toby Schwarz

COACH Toby Schwarz

First Things First!

6/16/2026

“I waited patiently for the LORD, and he turned to me and heard my cry for help. He brought me up from a desolate pit, out of the muddy clay, and set my feet on a rock, making my steps secure." Psalm 40:1-2

Before God answers our cries for help, we must wait. We unfortunately look for a binary answer, either "yes" or "no". We must always leave the door open for "not yet".

Lord, help me to ask. Lord, help me to wait. Lord, Thank You for always answering in the way that is best for me.

Clean start!

6/15/2026

"God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10

Never too late to start.

Lord, thank You that I get to start anew whenever I want.

100 and 2 percent!

6/11/2026

"Serve the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” Psalm 100:2

"Give 100%"!!! A common exhortation. An even stronger yet impossible encouragement is "Give 110%". However, giving 100% and even 110% may be possible but only with Jesus. For example, being "happy" or "glad" is impossible because those are responses to our situation. When things aren't good, we feel sad and not glad. However, Joy is an attitude. It is a choice. We choose to be joyful. That is seemingly impossible when things suck ... unless we ask God to help us.

Lord, help me to be Joyful despite my situations.

What If!?!

6/10/2026

“Let the whole earth shout triumphantly to the LORD! Serve the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” Psalm 100:1-2

What if the whole world believed and trusted God completely and showed that commitment every day? What if I did?

Lord, it starts with me.

Interested??!!

6/9/2026

“How lovely is your dwelling place, LORD of Armies. I long and yearn for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh cry out for the living God.” Psalm 84:1-2

If we aren't interested in spending time with God today, then what makes us think we will want to spend time with God for eternity. Or even worse, what makes us think that God wants to spend time with us.

Lord, help me to find or regain or continue to have the longing to spend time with You now and forever.

Restore and Sustain!!

6/8/2026

“Restore the joy of your salvation to me, and sustain me by giving me a willing spirit.” Psalm 51:12

We can't do much on our own. We may think we are independent but we are not. We are dependent on a lot of things. We can do some things on our own. We may think we are completely dependent but we are not. We have agency and have the ability to make decisions.

Lord, I come to You because I can and ask for Your help because I need it.

What's In it for Me?!

6/5/2026

“I love you, Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock where I seek refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.’” Psalm 18:1-2

Face it, many of us have "transactional relationships". We are "friendly" with someone because there is something in it for us. Likewise, if there isn't anything in it for us, we may be quick to dismiss someone. If this flaw in our character is true, then we are idiots to not have a relationship with God. He provides so much to us. In turn, we don't offer much so we should be thankful that He gives us the time of day.

Lord, thanks for loving me even though I don't bring much to the table in this relationship.

Perfect!!!

6/4/2026

“The instruction of the Lord is perfect, renewing one’s life; the testimony of the Lord is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise… In addition, your servant is warned by them, and in keeping them there is an abundant reward.” Psalm 19:7,11

Life isn't perfect but God is. We are not perfect/flawless, but we can pursue perfection/completeness/maturity by following His instructions.

Lord, thank You for not expecting me to be perfect now and thank You for giving me the tools to pursue being as complete as I can be.

Reminder About the Reminder!

6/1/2026

"'Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

We all need a reminder that ...
1) We will be weary and burdened. Life is not easy.
2) God will help us. Because we need the help.
3) It is up to us to seek out the help. God is waiting but we must initiate.

Lord, help me to remember that You are there for me and I will need You and I must seek You.