As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you. Isaiah 66.13

When I read the verse for the year 2016 (each year the German Church chooses a verse for the new year) I was reminded of a situation that happened to us a few weeks ago. We had coffee with friends at our usual North Beach coffee Shop. While we were talking their son was playing and enjoying the new discoveries of the coffee shop. He especially loved a box which had chess figures in it. It was amazing to see how much energy and joy that little boy had. At the end of our time we were about to say Goodbye to each other when we heard a cry. The little boy fell on the floor and hurt himself. But what was the first response? He went to his Mom to find comfort. He didn’t stop crying right away and the pain was still there but being hold by his Mom and by also holding on to her he found a deep comfort till he finally stopped crying and started to feel better.

When we look at the verse we see the part of a mother that comforts a child, but then God also talks about how he wants to comfort us. Many people around us are in great need of comfort because of many life circumstances like broken relationships, hopelessness etc.. But how can they find comfort? God uses each one of us to be someone that brings his comfort to people. We don’t have to have a certificate as a counselor to do that. No many times all it needs is a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on or just someone that is there. When you comfort someone you bring Gods peace to them and you can start pointing them towards him for even deeper healing. You know reality is we all can do that. We just have to do it.

We want to encourage you to start this new year of with making people priority in your life. If a crisis comes up in someone’s life and they need you, make time.

When all of us are available in bringing Gods comfort, the world will change and people start to see more hope and feel more comfort.

Hey our friend

How did you say hello to the new year? We celebrated with some friends from YWAM at our Apartment which was a lot of fun. The day after we had a visit from Ruth (Jen’s Mom) which is wonderful. We are still enjoying a little vacation and start to work again on the 6^th.

Thank you to all who support us in our work here through Prayer and finances over all those years! You are a huge blessing to us! May god bless you richly!

We also look for more people to join our support team on a monthly base in this New Year. With rent increases and also increases in health insurance as well as the drop of the euro exchange rate we are in need of another $1700 on a monthly base. Pray about if you should be part of our support team or ask God if you should share this with someone you know.  When you click on this link you find out more how to do that. All donations are tax deductible. Thank you for all your help in this area.

Start this year by making time for people and by bringing comfort!!

Have a blessed week

Markus and Jen

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. Romans 15.7

Wow we already reached the last week of 2015. Many of us will make New Year Resolutions that are focused on us, but what about we make a resolution that is focused on us and others? What about our New Years resolution would be to make our community better and to improve relationships with people right around us? When I look at the verse on the top that was chosen for the year 2015 (from the church in Germany) it makes me think of all the refugees that flee from war and try to make it in a new place. One thing that they really need is acceptance and love. But that can only come from a loving community. What about if we start building this community? Look at neighbors that don’t have anyone that they can truly talk to, about how they feel and what’s really going on in there lives. And trust me even sometimes things look perfect on the outside many times that is not a true representation on what is really going on.

When we start to accept and love people around us we start to create a place in which a community can grow which is save and loving. And the great thing is that each one of us can do that. Start by showing love to someone right around you. Invite them into your life. If you need some tips on how read our series on love your neighbor.

Let us make our new year resolution count and let it change our communities. Remember the words Paul said: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! (Phil 4.13)

Remember:  You can do it!! All it takes is a willing heart!

Hey our friend

We hope you had a wonderful Christmas time. We celebrated with friends from our neighborhood and some traditional German Christmas food. It was amazing. This week we are off and just relax a bit.

Thank you to all who support us in our work here through Prayer and finances in this last year! You are a huge blessing to us! May god bless you richly!

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 people’s lives plus on top we lost more through the lower Euro exchange rate this year. So at this point we need about $1410 more in monthly support to be fully funded and about $8,050 more to reach our full budget for this year. 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 monthly or with a year end donation. 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. All donations are tax deductible. Thank you for all your help in this area.

Make 2016 count and have your resolution change your community!!

We wish you a happy and blessed new Year 2016. We are blessed to have each one of you in our life!!

Have a blessed week

Markus and Jen

Back home in Germany we celebrate the 4 Sundays before Christmas, called Advent, by burning a candle for each Sunday on the Advent wreath and by preparing our hearts for Christmas and the good news that came with it. Each of the candle symbolizes something different and we will write about the meanings for the next 4 weeks.

The third candle on the Advent wreath is also called the Shepard Candle or the Candle of Joy. True Joy is something that is really needed in the world we live in today. Many people run after a short term joy which is not able to really fulfill them. Yes we need those short term joys as well, the joy when we have some good food or some special vacation, but without the long-term joy that the angel shared with the shepherds those joys will not bring long-term change.

.. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David. Luke 2: 10-11

When you look at the shepherds that came to see Jesus you see a total transformation in them. They came curious after the angel told them the good news, but after they saw baby Jesus they left praising and thanking God with great joy. That is what Jesus does to people. It was true then, it is true today and it will be true in the future.

To see the world changed we need to be the hand and feet of Jesus and share that true joy with people like the angel did 2000 years ago.

1. Spend some time alone this week and think about what brings that true joy to you and how it changes you when you think about it!
2. Ask yourself how you can share the gospel with people in your surroundings in a way that they understand and also that they truly see the joy and transformation it brought to you!
3. Using the plan you came up with and share the good news with people around you.

Hey our friend

We hope you had a wonderful week. A little bit more than a week and Christmas is here. We can also see that in our calendar by the amount of Christmas celebrations we went to. Last weekend Jen helped to organize one here for our neighborhood and it was a lot of fun. We also started to wrap up the year and get ready for some exciting stuff in the New Year. Make sure to take some time out between now and New years eve to reflect back on this year and set goals for the new one!

Also we want to say thank you to all who support us in our work here through Prayer and finances! You are a huge blessing to us! May god bless you richly!

We have a request for you! 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 people’s lives. So at this point we need about $1410 more in monthly support to be fully funded and about $8,950 more to reach our full budget for this year. 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 monthly or with a year end donation. 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. All donations are tax deductible. Thank you for all your help in this area.

Spend time this week to bring joy to someone who is going through a hard time or doesn’t have much joy in there life!

Have a blessed week

Markus and Jen