The other day I was sitting at home, enjoying a day off, when I got a phone call from a friend. He told me that he is in the neighborhood and that he wanted to see if we are home. I said yes and i ended up spending time with him for 5 hours. This was not planned, and on my off days I often just like to be introverted and read a book. But this day ended up looking very different. We spend time praying for each other and sharing a meal. When he left that night I felt so encouraged and uplifted by the words he shared and just by the time we spend.
It showed me again that sometimes we think we know what is best for us, but sometimes that is different to what is really good for us. Ask yourself these questions:
What is giving me life?
After what activity do I feel the most refreshed (Physically, emotionally and spiritual)?
How can I make sure I have those things as an essential thing planned into my life and my schedule?
Hey our friend!
What a fantastic summer we have so far. A follow up to one of our favorite movies came out this summer Jurassic World. Jen and I were so excited for that for a long time so that we had a hard time waiting to finally see it.
We also had a wonderful week going deeper in relationships we have. Its amazing to see how relationships are key. You can see that actually over the whole bible, God uses relationship to move. We want to encourage you to build friendships to people right around you, your neighbors.
Thank you so much for being a part of our life! You are a blessing. May God bless you richly.
Recently I started reading “love does” by Bob Goff which is a book that really shows how little things matter. I highly recommend to you to read it! One quote that stuck out to me was this one: “I used to be afraid of failing at something that really mattered to me, but now I am more afraid of succeeding at things that don’t matter.”
This is really something to think about. What do we want to say at the end of our life when we look back. Are we working towards what we are actually passionate about with everything we have even with the risk of not succeeding in it, or are we living a life that makes us succeed in things that don’t really matter? Living in San Francisco I meet people that have a passion for God and want to pursue Him, but then choose their job and career over that goal. Some end up succeeding in there career but in the process loose what they really wanted to do. In a world where everything is built on a mentality of always wanting more at whatever price and even at the cost of others it is important to stay true to what we are called to do.
Ask yourself those questions:
Am I living my life towards succeeding in Gods calling for me?
If not where do I have to make adjustments?
How can I become even more effective in the things that matter?
Hey our friend
During this week we had a wonderful game night which brought many people from the community together. It’s a great way to meet new people and have a fun time together. Think about what you can do in your community.
Thank you for partnering with us and the work here in San Francisco. You are a true blessing to us. May God bless you richly.
Last year when we were on our way to Germany to go to the funeral of my grandpa we had to go on a 6 hour drive to LA. On that drive we listened to worship music and the song it is well with my soul just kept coming back on. It really encouraged me and brought me hope during that time. When I looked into the story of the song I was amazed. It was written by a Chicago lawyer after he went through many tragedies. First he lost his son, then he lost most of his wealth in the big Chicago fire and then he sent his wife and daughters to Europe for a vacation on which trip the ship collided and all 4 of his daughters died. On his way over to meet with his grieving wife he wrote this song:
1. When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
when sorrows like sea billows roll;
whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say:
Chorus:
It is well, it is well, with my soul. It is well, with my soul!
It is well, with my soul! It is well, it is well, with my soul!
2. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
let this blest assurance control, that Christ has regarded
my helpless estate, and hath shed His own blood for my soul.
3. My sin, o, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole, is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more.
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
4. For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live: if Jordan above me shall roll,
no pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.
5. But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
the sky, not the grave, is our goal; O trump of the angel!
O voice of the Lord! Blessèd hope, blessèd rest of my soul!
6. And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
the clouds be rolled back as a scroll. The trump shall resound,
and the Lord shall descend, even so, it is well with my soul.
His life was hit by one tragedy after the other, but in all of that he kept his focus on God. I’m sure he didn’t understand why things happened the way they happened, but he choose to keep believing that his Father in Heaven is good and does not want any bad for him. Ask yourself those questions:
Do you truly believe that God is good even in times of challenge?
If not, what do you think makes you believe it is not true?
Spend time praying and ask God how you can see this truth again in your life!
Hey our friend
We hope you had a wonderful week. My brother and his wife left to go back to Germany. We had a wonderful time with them and look forward to see them again!! I was also meeting with a friend who uses the ministry concept to bring hope to his community. We also shared with one of my old students from Switzerland on how to impact his area with the ministry concept. God is starting to bring in more people who have a heart for their neighbors and community and want to use the concept there. Keep praying that all those starts will be fruitful.
Thank you for your Prayer and financial support. You are such a huge blessing to us. We are still in need of $1440 more monthly support to be fully funded. If you or someone you know would like to join our team in that way click on this link to see how!
Since Jen and I got married we read through the yearly bible 3 times and started just recently on our 4th time. It is a great start into the day by just reading the plan on the phone or let the phone read it to you. Many times we leave encouraged and also learn something new that God is speaking to us during those times.
Today part of the reading was in Psalm 37. It was so encouraging to read the promises in there. As an example Verse 5:
Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you.
What a call and what a promise. When we commit everything we do including our work, our off times and all other times, it will build trust in us and God can show us through it his help. Wow what an encouragement. And all of that by just spending 15 minutes per day to read the bible.
We want to encourage you to start a one year bible reading plan and to be encouraged through his word. You can either way buy a one year bible or you can just download the you version bible app to your phone and select the one year bible under the reading plans. To succeed in going through ask yourself those 3 questions.
What is a good time for me to do that (morning, night, afternoon etc.)
What is my plan to not quit after I missed a day?
Who can I invite to join me?
Now be encouraged by reading your bible.
Hey our friend
We hope you had a fantastic week. We had a week full of events in our apartment like a memorial bbq with friends from 5 nations, a visit from my brother and his wife from Germany and a german night at our house. Its wonderful what can happen when you create a place for community to happen. We want to encourage you to be one of those places in your neighborhood.
Recently I saw a commercial where a little boy goes into a diamond store and wants to buy a gift for his mom. After he choose it he put all his money he saved, which was just some change, on the table, which of course was not enough for the purchase. But in the next shot you see the Dad standing in the back showing his credit card with that saying he will pay for the rest.
I believe this is also a beautiful picture of us working with God. When we do our part God will take care of the rest, the bigger part. But we have to step out in faith that He can show himself faithful.
We want to challenge you to step out in faith this week in one area in your life!
https://youtu.be/JjdCaHQPeBQ
Hey our friend
We hope you had a wonderful week. Jen and I are back in the swing of things after having a wonderful refreshing vacation. Its exciting to see all the great things God is doing in our neighborhood. We want to encourage you to get involved in your community and shine as a light in it!
The other day I was sitting at home, enjoying a day off, when I got a phone call from a friend. He told me that he is in the neighborhood and that he wanted to see if we are home. I said yes and i ended up spending time with him for 5 hours. This was not planned, and on my off days I often just like to be introverted and read a book. But this day ended up looking very different. We spend time praying for each other and sharing a meal. When he left that night I felt so encouraged and uplifted by the words he shared and just by the time we spend.
What a fantastic summer we have so far. A follow up to one of our favorite movies came out this summer Jurassic World. Jen and I were so excited for that for a long time so that we had a hard time waiting to finally see it.
