Hey our friend

We are still in Germany having information nights, meeting with small groups, friends and supporters. Pray that God will encourage every single person we get in touch with. Last week we celebrated the biggest German Holiday the Unification of East and West. It was awesome day which got even better since Jen was able to shake the hand of the German President.

Presence

For many of us live is busy on a daily base. Between work, meetings, church, ministry and hobbies our schedule can fill up even more. So at the end of the day most of us are tired and exhausted. But how do you get refreshed? Spend time in God’s presence. Many would say that this would be an extra activity and would just add to the craziness of their day but I disagree. When we look through the lives of different people in the bible we find that the opposite is true. Look at Moses, when he spends time with God on the mountain he came back radiant. Look at David and his life. When he spends time in God’s presence he got refreshed (Psalm 23). Also look at Jesus, he spend time with his father and got refreshed. Even a short time before he was crucified he spends time with his father and got perspective in his presence. So the truth is that the extra hour spend in God’s presence is actually a time of refreshment and restrengthening. If you think about it God has the answer to all of our questions, he is the one who brings hope and he is the ultimate healer to just give you a few examples. So in his presence all those things are available. But how do you spend time in his presence? Honestly there is not just one way. Sometimes it is great to just spend some time in worship, other times it is good to just be still and let Him refresh you. Again there is not one way but many ways to be in His presence, the significant thing is to be in it. But I promise you out of my own experience that every minute you spend with Him you will not regret and it will actually refill you.

Have a blessed week

Markus and Jen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbiXtC0EZQU

Hey our friend

This week we are enjoying a wonderful time with our family in Switzerland. It is so nice spending time with family and it makes it more special when you haven’t seen some of them for over 3 years. Please keep praying for the ministry in North Beach while we are gone that God keeps moving in the hearts of all our friends there!! Thank you

A new approach to Advertise

When I look at Jesus and his ministry, I see His way of reaching people was going to them. Look at the advertisement industry today and you will see the same approach. They will get their message to you through every channel they get and they also keep reinventing themselves to keep the message relevant to you. It seems the advertisement industry learned more from Jesus as we the church did. So why is our approach as a church more that people need to come to us instead of using the approach Jesus used? Or why are we still using ways that were used 100 years ago instead of learning how this new generation can be reached. I think that is one of the reasons why we have a decline in many churches today. We expect people to come to a place where they maybe don’t know anyone where everything is different to them. When we meet people where they are at we find them in a place where they are comfortable and through that feel more open to share and connect. And I don’t talk about that we have to change the gospel, because the gospel is as relevant and true as it always was, is and will be. No I’m talking about that we need to think about ways on how we can bring it to people to where they are at. In countries like china Christians are actively out there to bring the good news to others and what we see there is a growing church. We need to come back to an active response to the gospel. When we look at the parable of the lost sheep we see the approach of the shepherd and how he went out into the dark to find the lost sheep. This needs to be our approach.  Let’s be out there to bring hope to the lost. Look back at the series we wrote a few weeks ago to get some good tips on how to reach out to others and then do it. How great will it be when someday in heaven people come up to you and say, You are the reason that I’m here today. So let’s get active so we can see that happen!!
Have a blessed week
Markus and Jen

Hey our friend

By now we arrived in Germany and also went to the wedding of my brother. Wednesday night we will have an information night at our Church. Please pray for us that God brings people and really encourages and challenges them through our speaking. Pray also for the right words to say. Thanks for all your Prayers.

What is Unconditional?

Unconditional is a word which is hard to understand. When we look around we see that everything in this world has conditions. As an example if you buy a car you get a big list of terms and conditions, like you can only drive so many miles a year or you have to clean it a certain amount of time. Another good example is, when you do this for me i will do this for you. Or even in marriage people put conditions on each other; if you don’t do the dishes I will not take out the trash. Most of the times we don’t speak those conditions out loud but they are in our head and many times they are deeply rooted. It’s hard to find a true example in this world for unconditional. When we look at god and his love for us, we can see that it is unconditional.  The best example is in romans 5.8.: But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  I believe that speaks pretty clearly of the commitment god has to us. He didn’t put any conditions when he send his son to die on the cross.  No he just send him because he loves us so much and wants to see us free.
I want to challenge you to think different this week. God doesn’t put conditions on his love and neither should we. First ask god to give you more of his unconditional love to love others. When you deal with a person at work that is hard to deal with, love them besides all the challenges.  Bring flowers home to your wife just because you love her. Find a person that doesn’t know Jesus and love on them unconditional and don’t look and judge them by their differences.
When we start living this way it will change the perspective of people and they start seeing through us that god loves them no matter where they are at in their life. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t want to bring change into their life, no god always wants to bring people forward and help them grow.
So take the challenge.
Have a blessed week
Markus and Jen

Hey our friend

Wow this day came quickly. We are on our way to Germany. Tonight we will fly out. We are both really excited. Please pray for the ministry while we are gone. Pray for the new students that are coming and also all the Helpers that keep things going while we are gone. Please also pray for our time in Germany, that God will use us in the most fruitful ways and that many people are touched by His love.

Start your day right with a daily date with God Part 2

Last week we talked about that it is important to have a dedicated time for our date. We also talked about the part of thanking God for daily things and worship Him and how that gives us His perspective for things. This week I want to talk about 4 more important things.

1. Studying the bible.
   Studying the bible daily is a great way to get a deeper understanding of Gods heart for us and also about his character. A good way to read the bible is either in a chronological order (the way the books were written) or in a mixed version (a one year plan that has each day a part of old and new testament as well as psalms and Proverbs). You can also use a study guide to study the bible on a specific topic that God put on your heart. It is amazing how study times start speaking into your life situation and give you even more perspective. We use an app called you version which you can get for all the smartphones and it has many translations as well as many great reading plans.
2. Spend time to listen to God and what He has to say to you. That is a very crucial time in your quiet time. When you spend time with God and listen you can be more confident in making decisions and trusting that He will guide you. Don’t look at your clock and already think about the next five things you need to do, just be there. It takes time to be able to just sit in His presence and just have Him refresh you. In our western culture we are really driven and think we always have to achieve something, even in our times with God. But I encourage you that is not the case when spending time with Him. Just be still and let Him refresh you. Trust me He has lots more energy then we do.
3. Spend time praying for people God placed in your life. It is really important for us to pray for others that don’t know Him or that are going through a hard time. Also praying for family and friends is a significant thing. Prayer changes everything. We literally see that everyday in the ministry here. When you pray you are inviting God to move. And trust me He will move. We saw people being set free from financial debts, sickness and many other things. God works in todays times.
4. Put on the Armor. When the Knights in the middle ages went out of the castle for battle you could be sure that they would wear there armor to protect them from any attack. The same way they put an armor on God gave us an armor that we have to put on. Paul wrote in Ephesians 6.10-18 about it. So every morning before you leave the house pray for every piece of that armor so God can put it on you and you are ready.

These are some suggestions for a quiet time. We hope it helps you, if for sure helps me and Jen. Try to apply them to your daily date with God and see how it works for you. Also adjust it to whatever God wants to do in your life in this season. The main thing is have a daily quiet time with Him!!

Have a blessed week
Markus and Jen