Blog Archives - COACH Toby Schwarz

COACH Toby Schwarz

Lonely at the Top!

11/30/2022

“Sitting down, he called the Twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last and servant of all.” Mark 9:35

"It is lonely at the top". This is true in many ways. But it doesn't have to be. If our intention is to be "the best" by demolishing everyone along the way, then it is indeed going to be lonely at the top. However, if we choose to grab others and bring them with us as we pursue our full potential, then we will have a lot of company when we become our "best" and life is meant to be a TEAM sport.

Lord, help me to realize my selfish desires may seem correct but they typically leave to incorrect results.

Would You Still Do it ...

11/29/2022

“Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people...” Colossians 3:23

... if no one was watching and you wouldn't get any credit for it? Would you still take that selfie, do that TikTok dance, "like" or retweet or post, share a thought or experience or take that risk? Would you still be nice, kind and generous with your words and actions? Would you do it for no credit, no grade, no trophy?

Lord, let my motivation be You and not the praise of others.

Just Enough!

11/28/2022

“Don’t you know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize.” 1 Corinthians 9:24

Doing "just enough" will only lead to underperforming and underachievement. Whether it is school or sports or jobs or friendships or faith, when our goal is the minimum, then we will achieve that goal.

Lord, help me to realize that there is more benefit in striving for more and failing than doing just enough and succeeding.

... But It's Hard!

11/25/2022

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Philippians 4:4

If we only did things that were easy, we wouldn't do much. If we only did things that were fun or enjoyable or that we felt had a high chance of success and satisfaction, we would do even less. Much of life is full of difficult stuff. Hard stuff. Unenjoyable stuff. Those things are also the CORRECT things to do. They are the MEANINGFUL things to do. They are the things we MUST do. Just because it is hard, it doesn't make it wrong.

Lord, help me to realize that I need to rejoice not only in the easy and fun things, but in the difficult stuff because that is the stuff that matters.

Thank God!

11/23/2022

“And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17

We can not earn salvation. No matter how "good" we try to be, we will never be good enough to deserve the grace given to us by God. Salvation is a gift. Grace is a gift. The only way we can truly show our gratitude and appreciation for a gift is to behave and act as if the gift matters.

Lord, help my life and actions be a thank you for all you have given to me.

Three Legged Race!

11/22/2022

“I always let the Lord guide me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” Psalm 16:8

If you have ever watched two people try to do a "three legged race" without being in sync, you have basically witnessed what it is like when we try to lead God instead of allowing God to lead us.

Lord, help me to realize that I need You to lead me and I am doomed to failure if I try to lead You.

The Others!

11/21/2022

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.” Galatians 5:22-23

Love of OTHERS. Joy for OTHERS. Peace toward OTHERS. Patience for OTHERS. Kindness toward OTHERS. Goodness for OTHERS. Faithfulness toward OTHERS. Gentleness toward OTHERS and Self-Control around OTHERS.

Lord, in a world where the largest section in a book store is the 'Self-Help" section, help me to make my life more about helping others and not so focused on helping myself.

What Went Wrong?!

11/20/2022

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6

We find ourselves in a situation that we don't prefer. What went wrong? Typically, we make a plan, based on nothing more than what we "think" is good and right or simply based on what we want. We trust our intellect, experience, gut or that little voice inside our head that says, "this sounds like a good idea". We give ourselves some credit before acting on our decision, thinking to ourselves, "This decision is the only obvious choice and I am so smart to come to this decision so quickly. Others around me are probably jealous of how brilliant I am". Then the plan fails and we wonder "how could that have possibly gone wrong?"

Lord, help me to realize that I am not as smart as I think I am and I definitely don't know the full extent of the purpose of my life because I tend to function out of selfishness and not based on Your define plan for me.

Trifecta!

11/18/2022

“Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer.” Romans 12:12

If you are putting together a list of three things to do each day to insure your day is a good day, these three things should be the list.

Lord, in a day that is full of all sorts of tasks, please help me to prioritize the right things.

Hope - More!

11/16/2022

“Since, then, we have such a hope, we act with great boldness.” 2 Corinthians 3:12

If we simply allow our circumstances to dictate our life, then we are most likely going to have a pretty rough life. Hope, like Joy, is a choice. Hope, like Joy, is an attitude. We choose to have hope and when we have hope, we are more likely to have peace. And when we have peace, we will more likely have joy and joy wins every time. Joy is undefeated.

Lord, help me to have hope more so that I avoid being hopeless.