Monthly Archives: October 2022

How to grow in your faith

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It is so important to grow in our faith and draw closer to God. In todays video blog I will be sharing how to do that and how to important it is to make it part of your day. Be inspired and Encouraged!

Hi our friend

How are you?

Meeting someone new is something Jen and I always enjoy. This week Jen and I both were able to meet quite a few new people by just being outside. One of them was with a young man.  I saw him before in the park but didn’t get a chance to talk to him. This time I took the opportunity to connect with him. I said hi and introduced myself. That then lead to a conversation were I could listen to his life and encourage him. At the end of our time he said to please talk to him again when we see him. It is amazing how God opens doors to speak life into someone when we are willing to step out. We want to encourage you to step out of your comfort zone to connect with someone this week!!

Also as we talked about in the video blog, figure out a time in your day when you can do the 3 things to grow in your faith and get to know your father in heaven more and more!

God bless you

Markus and Jen

Stories to think about – Ezekiel God strengthens

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Our story today is about Ezekiel and about how God strengthens. Be encouraged by this man of God!

Hi our friend

How was your week? This week was a bit different than usual. Jen and I switched a bit roles for 2 days. I watched Caleb while she went to a conference to connect with different ministry leaders in the bay area. It was wonderful for both of us since I got a chance to spend more time with Caleb and Jen got time to be an extrovert with all the people.

We also hope you got encouraged through this weeks story to think about. Here a question about that to ponder on: What if God is calling you to share a message from him to bring strength in a dark place, will you go?

God bless you

Markus and Jen

A journey through the bible the book of Ezekiel

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We are back at a prophet and this time its Ezekiel. May this book of a different kind of prophet inspire you and speak to you when you read through it.

Hi our friend

How are you?

The fall arrived in San Francisco and you notice how the its getting colder as soon as the sun isn’t out. But even with that colder weather we were able to connect with others in the park. All you need to do is bundle up a bit more. The same is true when I go on prayer walks. Just because the weather gets colder doesn’t mean we shouldn’t connect or pray for our community. We want to encourage you this week to spend some time walking around your neighborhood and pray for it.

Along with reading the book of Ezekiel on our bible journey ask yourself: Over which areas of your life do you have to speak new life how God asked Ezekiel to do over the bones in the valley of dry bones?  Let God refresh your life with new life!

Have a blessed week!

Markus and Jen

Here is the Love your neighbor monthly tip – Find a third place where community naturally gathers and go there regularly

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Why is it important?

When Jesus called us to love our neighbor, he gave us a task that is possible for each one of us and is also a blessing for each one of us. Many people around us might feel isolated or don’t feel a sense of belonging (maybe including us), and each one of us can bring change to that. You will see how loving your neighbor will change those things and also the relationships but also how it will give you a greater love for the people around you. It will leave a great impact and it builds a strong and lasting community for your neighbors and you as well to just name a few things. When I think back to last year and how the pandemic affected everyone around the world we saw more and more 1. the need of bringing God’s love to our local places and 2. How important it is to be connected with our neighbors. We got reminded of the call from Jesus also because our neighborhoods were the only places we could go to. So let’s all do this together starting today to take Jesus seriously and love our neighbor. We will give you a monthly tip with how to establish that relationship and love your neighbors in a practical way and then we will all put it into action with the neighbors right around us.  And then watch how over time your neighborhood will change! You, me, and all of us can do it so let’s do it!!

Our tip for this month is to Find a third place where community naturally gathers and go there regularly! Watch the video with some tips on that!

Hi our friend

How are you?

Over the last few years it has been hard to use our “neighborhood offices” the little corner coffee shop and the library. But during the last few weeks Jen was able to do that again and it has been a great way to meet new people and also become a part of a community that meets there. If it is neighbors from our hill or families that bring their child to a book reading. It makes such a difference to be visible and be part of the neighborhood. That also goes along with our love your neighbor challenge for this month. Start to look around your neighborhood and find the third place (a third place between work/school and home to meet others) and then connect there with others. You will be blessed and you will also be a blessing!

God bless you

Markus and Jen

A journey through the bible the book of Lamentations

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This month we are in the book of Lamentations. After Israel was taken into captivity by the Babylonians, there was a big time of mourning and grief. The book of Lamentations expresses what is going on and the feelings through poetic writing. May it speak to you through reading it.

Hi our friend

We hope you had a wonderful week. We had a wonderful time in Germany. It was so good seeing family and connect with friends and supporters after 3 years. In our time we got encouraged by our church and got to encourage them at an information night, shared with a confirmation group, got to go to a theme park with our whole family and got to eat lots of really good German food which was wonderful. We are so thankful for this time. After we got back we started to catch up on things and also had our monthly love your neighbor conversation meetup.

Also ask yourself this week What spoke to you out of Lamentations and in what area did you feel challenged to grow?

God bless you

Markus and Jen