Monthly Archives: May 2017

Love your Neighbor – Value the one

Love your neighbor Value the oneHow did your planning for the brunch go? Brunch is one of our favorite things so we hope it becomes yours too!

Many times in our society we try to make things bigger and bigger. And by the end of that, the biggest is looked at as the best. It doesn’t matter which area of life we are looking at. I’m not saying with that it is a bad thing if things are bigger, but it’s important to not forget to value the individual in the process. May this week’s video Blog encourage you to Value the one!

Hey our friend

We hope you are doing great! Our week in San Francisco was full of meetings with many of them about to inspire others to love their neighbors and to build a relationship. We also had a neighborhood watch meeting which was encouraging and community building. Jen and I are doing really well too. We had a nice date night last week which was a real blessing. We try to have one date night each week and it is really encouraging and has been a real blessing to both of us. It’s important to us with the business of our lives to put a real value on our marriage. We want to encourage you to do the same!!

May God point out the one this week!!

Have a blessed week

Markus and Jen

Love your Neighbor – Host a brunch

Love your neighbor host a brunch

How did you start this week to link with others? We know it takes time, but it is really worthied!

“I love those pancakes and I love that I get to meet neighbors at your brunch. I try to never miss those brunches” our friend declares. Our table turns into a spot where we hang out with our neighbor friends and new neighbor friends. Sometimes it is really crowded, other times its just a small group. But each time it’s a wonderful time for all of us. And it is so simple. Each one brings something to contribute to the brunch and we make German pancakes (they are like crapes) and have jelly, Nutella and butter ready. Preparation for the pancakes takes about 10 mins and then we just make them fresh during the brunch. In those 10 minutes, Jen sets up the table so not much time needed for that either.  We became really good friends with many of our neighbors and they are family to us through the brunch. The time and money invested is small, but the outcome is priceless.

Reading the stories of Jesus always reminds me of the importance of food. Some of the greatest fellowship he had with people was always centered around food. Why did he think its that important? Because he knew that food opens up the door for conversation and through conversation relationship.

Consider doing a brunch at your house! Invite neighbors over for it. One key thing is to keep it simple and don’t get your crazy cleaning skills in action. If you keep your house the way it is you will encourage others to do the same and show them inviting someone over doesn’t have to be a lot of work. When you do your brunch just make it your style and do things you like and invite your neighbors into that. The German pancakes are not a typical American thing, but everyone loves them. So be creative and be you!!

Hey our friend

We hope you are doing great! We had a great time at the conference and learned a lot. Our Staff Retreat time after the conference was really wonderful as well. Next Sunday we will have another love your neighbor class at our church. Pray that each one who came is inspired and keeps getting to know his or her neighbors.

Bon Appetite and have a wonderful brunch with your neighbors!!

Have a blessed week

Markus and Jen

Love your Neighbor – Link together like the Redwood trees

Love your Neighbor – Link together like the Redwood treesHow did it go with taking neighbors along for things? Was it fun and easy?

For this week we have a video blog!! Enjoy and be inspired!

Hey our friend

We hope you are doing great! Jen and I celebrated our 5 year wedding anniversary last Friday. We love each other more and more daily and both can’t believe it has been 5 years already.

Its also exciting to see in this season how the book is moving forward. We both feel encouraged about that!! Thank you for all your prayers in that area!

May this week be a week of inspiring others through the way you live to love their neighbors!

Have a blessed week

Markus and Jen

Love your Neighbor – Take neighbors with you

Love your neighbor take your neighbors with youHow was the response to your cards? Were people surprised? Whatever the direct response was, you are bringing hope!

When you read through the gospels and follow the journey of Jesus you notice that he touched people either on the way to somewhere or by just asking them to join him in whatever he was doing. Through that everything he did came natural. He invited people into his life and they joined in. When he was preaching to the 5000 he didn’t plan this big event, people just tagged along when he was sharing and a big event came out of it.

So as an example. It’s a Thursday night and we have nothing planned. So we decide to go out for dinner, but instead of going alone we invite one of our wonderful neighbor friends to come with us. It was very spontaneous and it worked out. We had a wonderful night together talking and sharing a meal together. We wanted to eat out anyway but now we could bring someone along. At the end of the night we both said to each other how much that neighbor became like family to us.

Of course this is not just dinner but pretty much any activity you do. Instead of going by yourself invite your neighbor to join you. And this is not a onetime thing, make it into something that you just do. Also don’t be discouraged if people say no, sometimes our schedule is just busy, but invite them again!

Our challenge for you this week is to invite a neighbor to something you do!

Hey our friend

We hope you are doing great! Sometimes in life you meet neighbors that just become like family. That’s how Jen and I feel with many people that live around us. Its just wonderful!

Our week in San Francisco went well. I (Markus) was sharing at a church in Santa Cruz as well as at a business man meeting. It was an encouraging time. The rest of the week went really well with our Haeusser hangout themed for the celebration of Cinco the Mayo. It was a lot of fun. Those special holidays are just a great opportunity to connect!

Ask God daily this week how much He loves you and when you are filled with His love show it to others?

Have a blessed week

Markus and Jen

Love your Neighbor – encouragement cards

Love your neighbor Encouragment cardsSmall things are so wonderful and so easy to do. How did it go for you in the last week? How could you bless people through little acts of kindness?

This week our blog is about how to make an encouragement card. Be inspired!

Hey our friend

How was your week? Hopefully great!! We had a good week in San Francisco. During the week we had our quarterly bay area meeting of all the YWAM Ministries from here. It was a wonderful time! Jen also had an art class with the kids at the boys and girls club. She made dog collars with them to hand out to neighbors and bless them through it!

How can you bless your community this week?

Have a blessed week

Markus and Jen