For the next few weeks we want to look at an important topic “how to Focus our life”. Being focused helps us to achieve the things God called us to do, so it’s really important to step into that. But it’s not easy with everything that always goes on. Last week we talked about prayer and how it is the key for focusing our life and we learned from Jesus life in that. This week its about perseverance.

“Wow I just got back to my hometown and wanted to do miracles there but people didn’t believe so I couldn’t do anything. That was so hard and sad at the same time,” Jesus said. “But this will not discourage me, I will keep going. There are many more people to focus on and I cant just quit because of a few people that didn’t believe that God came to earth and became human.” I would imagine something like this or similar went through the head of Jesus when he faced rejection in his town. But its amazing to see the perseverance in his life that helped him overcome all the obstacles and through that the world is not the same today. The same is true for all the disciples who changed the world. They faced many situations in which it was really hard and they felt like giving up, but they didn’t, they kept the focus!

I remember when I first came to the city to do my school and arrived in the rough part of town I felt like turning around and quitting. But I decided to persevere instead, and out of that God used me now for 15 years as a man whos shares his love with the people of San Francisco. Was it hard at times? For sure and I didn’t feel only once giving up. But I knew what God had spoken so I followed his words and persevered with His help.

So when you face challenges in focusing your life, you are in good company. Most people face challenges, but its important what you do in them. Are you moving forward and keep trusting God despite the circumstances? Are you willing to say I keep course and persevere even if my focus will not show results during my lifetime? This is what God is asking us to do! Trust and focus on him and let him focus your life and then keep persevering in it. But what do it do if hard times hit? The one thing that really helps is to have a clear word from God to look back to. Also surround yourself with encouragers that want to help you moving forward and can pray with you for solutions in things you are stuck.  But the main thing is when you are discouraged, look at the greatest encourager Jesus and ask Him to help you! You can do it like all the other people did!! God wants to use your focused life to change the world!!

Hey our friend

We hope you had a wonderful week!! We are back in San Francisco and we start to adjust back. We were able to connect with many friends and neighbors since we are back just by our daily morning run. Its so wonderful seeing everyone again. This weekend we also had our neighbor brunch which was a lot of fun again! So wherever you are let God shine his light through you into the areas you live and work in and into all the people you get in touch with!!

So don’t give up and stay perseverant in focusing your life!!

God bless you

Markus and Jen

For the next few weeks we want to look at an important topic “how to Focus our life”. Being focused helps us to achieve the things God called us to do, so it’s really important to step into that. But it’s not easy with everything that always goes on. Last week we talked about distractions and how they take us out. This week we want to talk about how prayer affects it.

When we look at the life of Jesus we see how focused he was. But how did he do it? He was always talking to his father to stay on the right track. Remember the last moments of his life and how he prayed in the garden. He was faithful and focused, but in that time he got tempted to quit. But what does he do? He spends time with His Dad and that helps him to stay focused.

I remember Times in my life where it was hard to focus. So many opportunities opened up but many of them were not along the line of what I wanted to do. They were all great things, but they would just not help me in moving forward to what God called me to. So how did I stay focused? To be honest, sometimes I didn’t. And when I didn’t it took me a while to get back on track. But how did that look like? It was just a simple thing, connecting with the father and seeing his heart. I didn’t just do that when I was off track, no we also do it when we are on track, just to make sure we stay focused on the things he has for us.

So how can you do that? Its simple: Set everyday time aside to spend time with Him one on one. Ask him for what you need. Sometimes that might be something totally different then we think. Then give him time to speak to you. We often try to rush through times like that, but that’s not the way it works. It says he will renew the strength of those who wait upon him. So we need to learn to wait on him. Another important thing in times of prayer is to ask him if the focus we are taking is the thing he has on his heart for us. Just imagine your times with him like this: Think of a little child that sits on the lap of his dad and feels peace but also finds answers to things. This is how God wants to talk to us, one on one and being close to him!

So start this week to spend extra time in prayer with your dad and let him help you focusing your life in the perfect way for you!

Hey our friend

We hope you had a wonderful week!! We left Germany for a vacation. We don’t use the computer during that times so we prewrote some blogs for this time as well. Please pray for San Francisco while we are gone that people experience more the love of God and start understanding the meaning of the gospel for their life.

So don’t forget this week to spend some time with your Father God!

God bless you

Markus and Jen

For the next few weeks, we want to look at an important topic “how to Focus our life”. Being focused helps us to achieve the things God called us to do, so it’s really important to step into that. But it’s not easy with everything that always goes on. Last week we talked about being accountable and how it helps you to move forward. This week we want to talk about distractions.

One of the main reasons we have a hard time focusing is distractions. When we work on focusing on something you can be sure that some distractions will come in. It might be checking your Facebook or it might be a game on your phone. And the next time we check a long time has passed. But not just that now we have a hard time getting back to what we were planning on doing. But that is why it is key to learn how to deal with distractions.

One example is Jesus on his 40-day journey into the desert. He went out there to spend time with his father to get ready for his ministry and to stay focused on what his father called him to do. But then the devil comes along and tries to distract him and tempt him with different lies and temptations. What does Jesus do? He counteracts each one of them with scripture till the devil flees.

So distractions are normal and they will come but we have to fight them. So if you notice that Facebook or anything else on the internet takes your focus away from the things you want to do, then shut off your phone or another device while you focus on your project. If it is on the computer maybe put a filter in place that only allows you to go to certain sites related to what you do. Ask God for tips on how to get away from distractions. He might give you tips directly or uses people to speak to you. But then you have to take the action steps. As less you are distracted as more you are focused and as better you get to the things you want to go!

So start right now!!

Hey our friend

We hope you had a wonderful week!! We left Germany for a vacation. We don’t use the computer during that times so we prewrote some blogs for this time as well. Please pray for San Francisco while we are gone that people experience more the love of God and start understanding the meaning of the gospel for their life.

So don’t forget this week to get rid of distractions!

God bless you

Markus and Jen

For the next few weeks we want to look at an important topic “how to Focus our life”. Being focused helps us to achieve the things God called us to do, so it’s really important to step into that. But it’s not easy with everything that always goes on. Last week we talked about setting goals and how that helps to focus. This week its about finding accountability

One of the big challenges in focusing our life and also in achieving a goal is that we get demotivated if things don’t go right right away. I’m sure all of us faced times in our life where we had a plan but then it didn’t work right away and then we just gave up. Remember the example from the January 1^st solutions people make to lose weight or go to the gym and how quick they are forgotten. But what if they would have someone that would challenge them and tell them not to give up and who gives them tips along the way? I am pretty sure many more would succeed. In the bible you find many examples of friendships where people encouraged each other to move forward. Jonathan and David are an example like that. Jonathan helped David in his biggest challenges and was an encouragement to him when his father hated David. I’m sure David was thinking about forgetting this idea of being a king after all the challenges it brought, but Jonathon his friend helped him not to give up!

That is exactly what each one of us needs in focusing our life. We need a helper on our side that holds us accountable and helps us to move forward. SO to focus your life you need someone that holds you accountable. A person that calls you out when you lose focus or you don’t reach your goals. A person that tells you things that are true but that you might not want to hear. That is what you need to really focus your life. Do you have a person like that in your life? If not this is what you need to do!

1. Find a person that is able to hold you accountable but also able to encourage you in the process!
2. Share everything with them about how you want to focus your life and the goals you have.
3. Ask them to check up on you!

Ok now its time to get started!

Hey our friend

We hope you had a wonderful week!! We are in Germany right now and don’t have time on the computer so we prewrote some blogs for the next few weeks. Please pray for San Francisco while we are gone that people experience more the love of God and start understanding the meaning of the gospel for their life.

So don’t forget this week to find someone to be accountable to!

God bless you

Markus and Jen