How did you remind yourself last week of the goodness of God? It so important like I said in the video last week. Make this a daily theme in your life to remind yourself of Gods goodness!!

This week we want to write about how hospitality can create a safe place for people to be open. Many times in our today’s society we talk bad about other people if they are not around. Proverbs 11.13 says that a gossip betrays a confidence but a trustworthy person keeps a secret. When you host dinners or brunches or other events at your home, make sure to stir the conversation away from the gossip of others. It might be hard first and feel awkward, but it then creates a safe place. People see your heart and see that you don’t talk bad about others so if they want to share something with you, they can because you won’t slander them either. So you created a safe place for everyone to be open and real. And that is true for yourself as well. You now have the opportunity to share as well because you also feel safe.

Remember the story of Zacchaeus we talked about 2 weeks ago?  Jesus came to his house and he made dinner. But the crowds outside started to gossip about Jesus why he would spend time with someone like Zacchaeus. But Jesus went to spend dinner with him anyway. Because Jesus did that and didn’t let his heart be stirred by the gossip, Zacchaeus totally changed his heart and through that probably the lives of many people he returned money too. Imagine someone ripped you off and comes back to you asks for forgiveness and gives you back more than he took, that might make you wonder about the heart change of that person.  So safe places can really change the lives of not just you but many people in your surroundings!

1. Start this week to check yourself and see if you gossip about others and if you do ask God for forgiveness and change.
2. Stir conversations away from Gossip. Instead of going along with gossip say something positive about the person that’s talked about.

Hey our friend

How was your week? 4^th of July is soon on us and with that another neighbor barbecue in our apartment. We are so excited!! Last week was a good week too. We had meeting with a good friend about some details for the website. Its such a blessing to have friends that are specialists in their fields.  We also had a wonderful neighbor brunch. As always it was a great time to connect! Being friends with the people right around you is such a blessing and it gives all of us community we long for!!

Remember this week the 2 questions that we posted!!

Have a blessed week

Markus and Jen

Last week we talked about hindrances. Were you able to address some in your life and then to start overcome them. It’s a process and it takes time but it’s worthied!!

This week and the next few weeks we want to talk about hospitality and the importance of it. So when we moved to our apartment one thing that was important for us was to get to know our neighbors. We started it off with a big birthday party to which about 40 people came. Our place was so full, but everyone had a great time and connected with each other. With that event we meet a lot of people which then after we invited over for dinner, because we really wanted to get to know them better. At the beginning we were worried that our place was too small or our food not fancy enough, but the reality was different. All people that came over felt blessed and were encouraged that we invited them. it didn’t matter that our place was small or our food was not like Michelin Star Grade, what mattered was that we had an open and inviting home. Out of all the hospitality we did over the years many wonderful friendships were formed by which we are really blessed.

I also get reminded of the story of Zacchaeus (Luke 19.1-10) when Jesus asks him to come over to his house for dinner and how he instantly invited him in. There was no time for much preparation or doing big things. No, he just opened his home and was blessed. What about if Jesus wants to bless you through your neighbors and bless them through you just by opening your house for hospitality? Would it not be awesome to host a dinner and get a lifelong friendship out of it?

We want to challenge you to invite one of your neighbors over this week for dinner! You can do it!!!

Hey our friend

We hope you are doing really great!! Jen and I feel honored to know that you read our blog and hopefully it inspires and encourages you! Our week here in San Francisco was great. We hosted a game night at our house which was a blast. Often we don’t even get to play games and just end up socializing with each other. Our prayer is that every person that comes will feel the love of God through us and leave encouraged and hopeful. Often we see people leaving more hopeful.

Keep praying this week for your neighbors that they see hope and pray for your dinner that God will really encourage you and your neighbors through it!!

Have a blessed week

Markus and Jen

Valuing the one is such an important thing and it shows people a greater value. I hope you were able to see that through last weeks challenge!

This weeks blog is about local meetings spots in your neighborhood. It’s important that we find those because in those we are able to connect with others from our area. And sometimes it’s good to have an outside meeting spot from home.

Hey our friend

How was your week? We had a wonderful barbecue at our house for Memorial Day. It was a wonderful time connecting with our neighbor friends. We love them! We also had a community night at YWAM this week which was a blessing. Its great to see many Christians from the city come together and be challenged and encouraged.

So find this week your meeting spot and regularly go there!!

Have a blessed week

Markus and Jen

How 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

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