Insane Week ...

This past week has been really crazy. Keep on reading or watch the video to see what happened and what I’ve experienced.

God’s Plan for your Life?

So do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:31-33, NIV)

In preparation of a message for a youth group, I had to think about this question and so I read the book “Just Do Something” by Kevin DeYoung, which I can highly recommend! God’s plan for your life is pretty flexible. God most often won’t tell you what you should do. We should rather pray for wisdom to make the right decisions. And still: there’s not only one single plan, but several possibilities for your life. God knows what we need and so we don’t have to worry. But every decision should first honor God and not satisfy our own selfish desires.

Through Germany by train

Monday, 6:05 am. I’m in the ICE to Lübeck (thanks to my new Bahncard I got a free 1st class upgrade, not too bad). With a cup of coffee I prepare my message for this evening, as well as the youth service on Friday. I really enjoy this: Working while Traveling! In Lübeck I meet up with Annabell, whom I know briefly through my church. After a quick city tour, visiting the Christmas market and enjoying a piece of marzipan cake it’s already evening and we’re taking the bike to the SMD (Student Mission Germany), where I can share about my ministry. It was an amazing evening! We really had good conversations and I was able to encourage the group to be a blessing in Lübeck. After a short trip to Timmendorf Beach the next day, I was already heading to Magdeburg.

Tobi, a friend from my church, picked me up and we went, as you can guess, to a Christmas market. In the evening I was part of his couch group (small group) and I was able to share my ministry there. The next day I helped a fellow student of Tobi to move house before I then had to take the train home again. I have to add that the Magdeburg main station has for sure one of the best Kebabs I’ve ever eaten.

Thursday morning I was able to do a quick corporate shooting for my former company to support a part of my equipment I take with me to Africa. What a great opportunity.

Friday morning I got my first travel vaccination: Rabies and Typhoid. Thankfully I didn’t have any side effects from this vaccination, because ... shortly after that I was in the next train to Mülheim (Ruhr), where I would preach in the youth service of the CG Saarn. I was grateful to be able to take a train, because I still had to finish the rest of my message. The evening was really great! I was able to show these young people what God’s plan for their life looks like and how to figure it out. Kevin DeYoung writes: “Live for God. Obey the Scriptures. Think of others before yourself. Be holy. Love Jesus. And as you do these things, do whatever else you like, with whomever you like, wherever you like, and you’ll be walking in the will of God.” I love this aspect that God has given us our mind to decide things ourselves. He won’t give us all the details beforehand, there’s several plans for our life.

That evening I was able to stay with a family of this church and experience true hospitality! Anna, whom I knew from DMG and who made this all possible, came in the morning with some bread rolls and we had an amazing breakfast. I then took the train to Solingen, to spend some time with my aunt and uncle as well as my grandpa. It was a really blessed time and I’m extremely grateful for it! Saturday night at 11:45 pm, I arrived back home after a full week. Very fulfilled, deeply thankful, but also really exhausted!

Back home again

Since Sunday I’m home again and able to catch up with a lot of people here. On Sunday I went to a Christmas market with Antonia, a good friend of mine and tonight I’ll meet up with Jonas, a friend from my youth group. Let me know if I should come to you! I’d love to see you again or get to know you personally.

Called off England

Unfortunately Covid is getting worse and the UK has tightened the entry regulations. So the plans I have are not possible anymore which means that I had to cancel it all. This obviously cost money, but not as much as rebooking everything, leaving me with a bit of uncertainty... So I postpone this whole thing to next year... hopefully :)

Have a blessed week you guys and stay safe!

Matze