In this blog series we want to show you that it is actually really easy to make an impact where you live. We hope you start to see that more by reading this series!

Last week we were writing about how in order to have healthy relationships, we can’t hold a grudge. But to go even a step further in that, we need to love unconditionally. Let me give you an example: If you do something for a neighbor, don’t expect anything in return. If a neighbor has a bad attitude against you, instead of having a bad attitude back to them, keep loving on them.

When you look at the life of Jesus, you see many times how he loved people with an unconditional love. Imagine Judas, this man was about to betray him and Jesus knew it, but he still treated him like all his other disciples. So how can we do that?

Start with what we were talking about last week, never hold a grudge. When you get into situations think first before you react. React out of love instead the emotion of the moment.

Unconditional means not putting conditions on loving people.

So lets show even more love to neighbors and people in our life.

1. Start assessing areas where you had a hard time loving.
2. Ask God to give you love especially for those areas
3. Go the extra mile, by loving people well. Like Jesus said if someone forces you to walk one mile, walk two with them! (Matthew5.41)

Hey our friend

We hope you had a great week. A few weeks ago I (Markus) was asked to join the financial oversight team for YWAM San Francisco. Helping out in that means to go to 3 board meetings a year and read from time to time through financial reports and voice any concern. Pray for wisdom and understanding for me in this new responsibility.

All the work in the neighborhood is going well as well. Join us in praying for every person in that area to experience the love of God in such a real way.

First of all thank you to all who support us in our work here! You are a huge blessing to us! May god bless you richly!

Here a request! To do the work we are doing we depend 100% on support. Over the last few months we lost about $287 in monthly support through changes of circumstances in peoples lives. So at this point we need about $1560 more in monthly support to be fully funded. We want to ask for your help in sharing with people you know that have a heart for missions and would be interested in joining our support team. Of course if you are not a part of it you are welcome to join as well! When you click on this link you find out more how to do that. Thank you for all your help in this area.

Love this week nieghbors like never before!

Have a blessed week

Markus and Jen

P.s. A few years ago I made a video on how to love people better. Maybe it can give you some helpful tips!

In this blog series we want to show you that it is actually really easy to make an impact where you live. We hope you start to see that more by reading this series!

One of the last things Jesus did on the cross was forgiving the people that put him there. It is very interesting to think that Jesus put such a value on demonstrating the need of not holding a grudge. And when you think about it you realize that whatever anyone did to you, it probably doesn’t come close to this moment in Luke 23.34.

But why did Jesus focus so much on this Point? If you want relationships and friendships to work, you can’t hold things against each other. It is important to let go of things. If you always have in the back of your head the comment that was made about how your house is not as clean or your garden isn’t weeded well enough, you will not be able to go deeper in relationship. The most loving thing to you and your neighbor at this point is to forgive and move forward. Relationships can bring up things that are hurtful, and that is also true for relationships with neighbors.

Also remember, sometimes you have to forgive a lot till you see change. Jesus said to forgive 7 times 70 (Matthew 18.22). That pretty much means always!

To have true relationship we can’t keep holding a grudge!

1. Ask God what grudges you are holding against neighbors or people in your life!
2. Forgive them for that and have a new beginning.
3. See how your relationship and the way you see that person will improve!

Hey our friend

We hope you had a great week. Last week we were teaching our students and a friend from our church here on how to love the neighborhood they are living in and to bring hope through the gospel. Pray that God will use the teaching to let it go deeper into their hearts so they start doing it.

Jen and I also had a wonderful week together as well. We started to study the bible specifically on the life of Jesus together to learn new things about him. It will be a wonderful time!

First of all thank you to all who support us in our work here! You are a huge blessing to us! May god bless you richly!

Here a request! Over the last few months we lost about $287 in monthly support through changes of circumstances in peoples lives. So at this point we need about $1560 more in monthly support to be fully funded. We want to ask for your help in sharing with people you know that have a heart for missions and would be interested in joining our support team. Of course if you are not a part of it you are welcome to join as well! When you click on this link you find out more how to do that. Thank you for all your help in this area.

Remember this week to forgive people that you hold a grudge against!

Have a blessed week

Markus and Jen

P.s. We just wanted to share this beautiful song with you! Enjoy

https://youtu.be/xX15hq2VxdQ

In this blog series we want to show you that it is actually really easy to make an impact where you live. We hope you start to see that more by reading this series!

In the second week of our series I touched a little bit on that topic, but today I want to go a little bit deeper into it because it is such a key!

One of the values of America is independence. But is that always a good thing? When we are too independent we end up separating ourselves from others. We miss the opportunity for relationship. I think a better way to live would be to be more interdependent. Being interdependent opens the door for vulnerability. It says I can’t or don’t have it all and I need you.

How could that look like? Here an example:  If a neighbor has all the tools you can go over and borrow the tool you need from him. But then the other way around if your neighbor doesn’t know how to use some of his tools you can help him out in either way doing the task for him, or teaching him how to use it. That is easy to do, but it takes a step in saying I need you. When you take those steps it opens the door for a deeper relationship. But you also have to be careful how you approach things like that. Don’t go over and show off in how amazing you are by having all those tools or in how you know how to use them all. No those things have to come out of humility.

The step of saying I need you is a step of saying I invite you more into my life.

1. Are you ready to take that step with your neighbors?
2. Are you ready to be open and show your needs but also give the things you have?
3. Go for it!

Hey our friend

We hope you had a fantastic week. Jen and I were able to spend a day hiking which was amazing. Every Sunday a city bus is heading towards Marine Headlands, an area across the Golden gate bridge which is all nature. The funny thing that happened was that we brought the bus fare for the way there, but we left one of our wallets at home which had the fare for the way back. So what did we do? We hiked about 12 miles back into the city across the Golden Gate bridge. It was a wonderful time.

We also had another wonderful neighbor brunch and a game night at our house. A lot of people came, which some of them we haven’t seen for a long time. It was really good to reconnect. Our DTS Students are doing well as well which is awesome to see. Please keep them in your prayers!

First of all Thank you to all who support us in our work here! You are a huge blessing to us! May god bless you richly!

But here a request! Over the last few months we lost about $287 in monthly support through changes of circumstances in peoples lives. So at this point we need about $1560 more in monthly support to be fully funded. We want to ask for your help in sharing with people you know that have a heart for missions and would be interested in joining our support team. Of course if you are not a part of it you are welcome to join as well! When you click on this link you find out more how to do that. Thank you for all your help in this area.

Remember this week to take a step into being more vulnerable and open. It will change your life!

Have a blessed week

Markus and Jen