Author Archives: Markus

Be a light

14 You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5.14-16

Recently we drove back to the city after dark. But even it was dark outside through all the lights in the city you could see perfectly. Jesus gives us an example about that that I really love in Matthew 5.14-16. Jesus compares us to a city on a hill that shines light and through that can’t be hidden.

What does he mean with that? He is talking about that we are the ones who let the light of our faith shine through everything we do. People can see in us the love of Jesus through the way we live and how we treat others and also how we share the good news. Our faith should not be a hidden thing, but it should shine all the time. It should shine in our work in our homes in our neighborhoods in our areas of our hobbies and all other areas of our life. When we shine the light of Jesus through us it attracts people and they want to know more. I saw this many times in my life, when I showed people how special they are how much more they were interested in what I had to say. They saw that I genuinely cared about them and saw through that Jesus shine through.

I believe that is true for you too!! I am sure you are bringing hope to people and shine the light of Jesus! I want to encourage you to be intentional this week to do that with people around you!! Let the light of Jesus shine through you to your neighbors at home, at work and maybe in the sport group.

Hey our friend

We hope you had an awesome week!! We had a normal week here in San Francisco with dinners small groups, meetups and many other. We also went to a workshop of a group who plants little house churches to learn about their approach on sharing the gospel. It was an encouraging time!! Jen and I also had personally a wonderful week since we had a short vaca for our anniversary which was a lot of fun. We are so thankful that God opened the door for that!

We wish you a wonderful new week and let the light of Jesus shine through you to your neighbors!

God bless you

Markus and Jen

Approach

This weeks video blog is on how we as Christians can approach things in different ways with different results. Be encouraged and challenged.

P.s. Here is a link to the info about the film Unplanned I was talking about. I recommend seeing it, but be aware its not a light topic movie to watch!!

Hey our friend

Jen and I celebrated our 7 year anniversary last weekend!! I can’t believe it’s already 7 years! Time flies. We are so blessed to have each other!

Besides that our week was also good. We had 2 great small groups, time with the kids at the boys and girls club a wonderful encouragement group and just so many wonderful moments connecting with the neighborhood just to name a few. One of our highlights was our potluck for our whole street. It was a wonderful time for all the neighbors and us and it was a joint effort between us and a few neighbors. A wonderful way to build community! My friend also bought me (Markus) a plane ticket to see him up in Seattle for 2 days which was an amazing time too!!

We want to encourage you this week to stand up for the things you believe in but do it with an approach of love not with an approach of being right!!

God bless you

Markus and Jen

Outlook

I give thanks to Adonai with all my heart
I will tell about all your wonderful deeds
I will be glad and exult in you
I will sing praises to your name Elyon.
Psalm 9. 1-2

Recently I was reading Psalm 9 and I love especially the beginning part. David shows us here the right outlook and perspective. In the moment he thanks God for things he did in his life and then also tells about his wonderful deeds his outlook is changing. It is moving away from maybe an outlook or perspective of fear or something else he is facing to God who has all the answers. While writing most of the Psalms David is going through some challenges in life. But instead of just looking what he can see with his eyes, he is looking at the things he cannot see. He is speaking courage to himself by reminding himself that he is on the side of the Most High!

So outlook is very important. Whatever hard time you might face in life it’s important that you are not just looking at the things you can see but choose to thank God and remind yourself of the amazing things he did in your life and the life of others. You can watch how your courage is rising and your perspective will shift. Your focus falls more on God and your relationship with him and not so much on the issue. And in that moment God can then give you courage to face whatever you need to face.

So the great thing is when you tell neighbors about the wonderful deeds of God in your life that opens up conversation and gives opportunity to share the good news. So start to give him thanks right now and start talking about the wonderful deeds!!

Hey our friend

We hope your week was wonderful!! We had our quarterly meeting with bay area ministries which was encouraging. It really helps when you spend time with others and hear their victories and struggles. That is why God always meant for us to be in a community. Even from our first day on earth he placed us in our family community. Let’s bring our neighbors into a loving community and let them see how God can move through it!! On that note we also had our wonderful neighbor brunch which was super encouraging. We love everyone who comes and they all became a community to us and to each other. So it makes a difference!!

So don’t forget starting today to thank God for the community you have or the one He wants to build through you and build up your courage!!

God bless you

Markus and Jen

Superheroes and your Identity

You probably ask yourself what superheroes and your identity have to do with each other. Find out in this video Blog!

Hey our friend

God loves you without end, never forget that!!

This week we had many opportunities to spend time with neighbors and let Gods love shine practically through us. We also had many unplanned Conversations and Moments with neighbors which are sometimes the best moments!! Leave a little bit time in your day for those spontaneous moments so that you don’t have to miss them because of a lack of time!

Jen and I also had personally a great week and a refreshing weekend!

Don’t forget to let God show you your true identity, by spending time with him and studying his word, in more and more ways!

God bless you

Markus and Jen

Great is thy faithfulness

I don’t know if you ever felt that way, but sometimes God encourages you through the songs you sing in worship. Recently our worship team at church played the old song Great is thy faithfulness. While singing that song God showed me a in a deeper way his faithfulness in my life. It’s amazing how God can use a song.

When I looked up the poem the song is based on, I found out that it was written in 1923 by Thomas Chisolm. Thomas grew up very poor with bad health and basic education. But then, later on, he became a teacher and later a minister which he both had to stop because of his health. But in all of those circumstances, he wrote about Gods faithfulness. He did not base it on what the world could give him but solely based it on God himself.

1923 is just a few years before the great depression hit the world. I wonder how many people felt encouraged through that time to keep their focus on Gods faithfulness and not the one the world can provide by just reading that poem. I bet many people read those lines and put there trust back into God.

Later on, the song was played at big crusades of Billy Graham were thousands of people would give there life to Jesus. And now in the year, 2019 God encourages me through this song.

I’m sure that Thomas didn’t think his little poem would turn someday in a song and then would impact many people all over the place. He probably just wrote a poem to be encouraged and reminded about Gods faithfulness even in hard times. But God used it way bigger then he could ever imagine.

We want to encourage you with that song and story that God is also faithful in your life. Make sure to remind yourself daily about that. Also, step into the things He has for you and be faithful in them. You never know if there will be a song or something else that he puts on your heart that will encourage or bring change to people almost 100 years later.

 

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee
Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not
As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be

Chorus:
Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning, new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hands hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest
Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own great presence to cheer and to guide
Strength for today, and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside

Hey our friend

We hope you had a wonderful time celebrating Easter last weekend!! He is risen!! We love this time of the year since it can really open up conversation about our faith. With all the church services and different events people are more exposed to the truth and are more curious what it is about. Join us in praying this week for people that don’t know Jesus yet that they have an opportunity to hear the gospel in a way that they can understand.

Remember this week that whatever God puts on your heart do it, it can change your life and the lives of others forever!!

God bless you

Markus and Jen