Blog Archives - COACH Toby Schwarz

COACH Toby Schwarz

Failing To Plan!

9/30/2022

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

"Failing to Plan is Planning to Fail". But when we fail to INCLUDE GOD in our planning process, we are insuring that our plans will be uprooted and frustration will ensue. To increase the probability of any plan we may have to have a reasonable chance of success, God must be an essential component of that plan.

Lord, help me to not only plan ahead but help me to consult You first before finalizing anything.

Monster In The Closet!

9/29/2022

"They were all terrified when they saw him. But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage! I am here!” Mark 6:50

Why are kids scared of the "monster in the closet"? Because they don't TRUST that there isn't a monster in the closet. Parents go through the tedious routine of turning on the light, opening the closet, showing their kid the empty closet and that will typically solve the problem ... until the next night when the same kid is scared of the monster in the closet. We fear when we don't trust. When we trust, we should have no fear.

Lord, help me to trust You and not be a child that requires You to show me an empty closet every time I think there is a monster in it.

Head Down!

9/28/2022

“But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details!” Luke 10:41-42a

We know people or we are people who are characterized as "task oriented". The completion of the task matters most and they/we tend to put our head down and push forward until the task is complete. Accomplishing tasks is essential for us to move forward and achieve our goals but often times this comes at the expense of relationships and prevents us from helping others in a time of need. Focus and drive are not a bad thing, unless those inhibit our ability to have our head UP and on a swivel, looking to see who we can help along the way.

Lord, help me to be more observant of the people I need to help as I move toward the completion of my "list".

Know Why!

9/27/2022

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.” James 4:10

Why do we have to look at everything as "either/or". For some reason the "you can't have it all" notion is applied to most areas in life. Furthermore, the idea of "first shall be last" is taken out of context or improperly applied as well. Similarly, the world has unfortunately redefined "humility" as being "weakness" when it actually is "meekness". Biblical humility refers to getting your confidence from God, who loves and values you more than you do yourself. Biblical humility means believing what God says about you over anyone else's opinion, including your own. It requires embracing who you are in Christ over who you are in the flesh. Therefore, humility doesn't mean you have to be weak. To the contrary, it means we should have the confidence to be strong knowing that God, not us, is the source of all we have.

Lord, thank You for investing in me so that I am not relying on me but on You and that humility gives me strength.

Washing Dishes!

9/22/2022

“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” Romans 5:8

We don't need to be squeaky clean before we accept Jesus into our lives. However, similar to washing dishes in a dishwasher, the dishwasher will do all the work and there is no need to wash the dishes thoroughly before loading the dishwasher, but rinsing off the sauce and even chipping off the crusted cheese is always appropriate.

Lord, thank you that I don't need to be perfect first but help me to remember that this doesn't give me the green light to behave poorly.

Un-Necessary Worry!

9/21/2022

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

Those who are certain about what their current situation is or what their future holds, tend to not worry. Count yourself as one of those people.

Lord, thank you that my worry is a choice and not a necessity, therefore I choose not to worry.

Interested In Others!

9/20/2022

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others." Philippians 2:3-4

When you walk into a room, are you looking for attention or are you looking for a way to encourage or acknowledge another? When you go on social media, are you looking for attention and praise or are you showing attention and praise to others? When you are in a group, are you so concerned about what others think about you that you fail to engage with them to tell them how much you appreciate them? When you walk around this world, is your nose in your phone and are your ears covered by headphones so you have a convenient excuse to avoid others instead of being approachable to share life with others?

Lord, help me to be about You and others and not about me.

Focus!

9/19/2022

“Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “ Matthew 14:29

Peter had no problem walking on water, as long as he kept his eyes on Jesus. As soon as Peter became distracted by the world around him, he sank.

Lord, help me to be the "get out of the boat and focus on Jesus" Peter and not the "weather watching, I wonder what is going to happen to me" Peter.

For Give!

9/16/2022

“Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” Luke 6:38-39

You can't "out give" God.

Lord, thank You that although I may not feel as if I have much, I actually have infinitely more than I need because You will always provide more than I deserve or require.

Spilled Water!

9/15/2022

“You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. ” Matthew 12:34b

Put a glass of water, filled to the brim, on a table and then lightly jostle the table, water spills out. Nothing else comes out. Just water. You may want something else but the glass has water so water comes out. Put anger or bitter or jealousy in your heart, as soon as you get jostled by life, those things will spill out. Fill a bowl with candy, to the brim, sometimes, a couple pieces fall out from gravity. Fill your heart with Jesus, Jesus won't wait to be jostled to come out but when we are jostled, Jesus will spill all over the place.

Lord, help me to make sure that I am filled with what I want to come out of me.