Today, we welcome Maike Hermmann, a German blogger who recently launched a sister site to Tirzah Magazine called Heldenmut4110 (the site is in German, but they will be translating some of our Tirzah articles from English to German, which we are just so tickled about)! This girl has the most beautiful heart for God (and really, look at that smile that just radiates inner beauty and a joy out of this world!), and we're so excited to hear how God is working in her life!

Name: Maike Herrmann Age: 23 Location: Germany Blog: www.heldenmut4110.wordpress.com

Tell us a little about yourself.

I am a college student studying to be an elementary school teacher. In my free time, I love hanging out with friends but also, I dearly love some alone time just for me. I like playing guitar, even though unfortunately, I am not very disciplined when it comes to practicing. I love tea, but I hate coffee (it took my friends almost two years to realize converting me to coffee is impossible). I love reading, and lately, I rediscovered my passion for writing.

Congratulations on launching Heldenmut4110! What was the inspiration behind this name?

Thank you! I am so excited about it! Heldenmut is a German word meaning "a hero’s courage." It is a theme that has become quite important to me recently. Sometimes, we really needs courage to do God’s will -- if it is confessing to friends or strangers or starting a ministry. I believe we are all challenged to be courageous like a hero from time to time if we really want to walk the path God has prepared for us. Our greatest example is Jesus who was scared of what was ahead of him when he prayed in the garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22,41-44). But, He turned to the one and only true source of courage: God! It was God who helped Jesus be courageous enough to die on that cross for us and He is the one who will also help us be courageous every day.

4110 refers to Isaiah 41:10: "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." I think this is such a powerful promise and if we keep that in mind, I believe God will make us courageous so we can fulfill His will.

What is your vision for Heldenmut4110?

I hope that Heldenmut4110 inspires women to step out of their comfort zones, to be brave and to pursue whatever dream God has placed upon their hearts. I pray that it encourages women to take the place that God has planned for each of us and that fear will not hold us back from becoming who God wants us to be.

How has Tirzah Magazine impacted your life?

Actually, it was Tirzah Magazine that gave me the idea to launch Heldenmut4110. I found the site a couple of months ago and I loved it! God used those articles to pull me closer to Him. I forwarded some of the articles to friends and family of mine who understand English well enough so they could benefit from them as well. However, it made me sad to think that many of my friends would be struggling with the vocabulary since you don’t usually have a unit about “Christian Vocab” at school. That was when I thought it would be so good if there was site like this in German. A couple of days later the Lord made it clear to me that there was no reason I shouldn’t be the one starting a site like this. So, basically if it wasn’t for Tirzah Magazine there would be no Heldenmut4110.

What is your favorite passage/verse/story from the Bible?

I don’t really have an all-time favorite. It is more what God and I are currently working on. Right now, of course, one of my favorite verses is Isaiah 41:10!

I do have to say, though, that I like Romans 8:28 a lot, too:

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."

This is the verse that I usually cling to when I am going through rough times and it always gives me hope.

What does a set-apart young woman look like to you?

To me a set-apart young woman is a woman who knows who she is in Christ and is ready to step into her calling.

What advice do you have for young women who are struggling to maintain their faith in college?

I don’t know if there is an actual term for it in English. If there is I don’t know it. Anyway, I found it a blessing to have one night a week reserved to meet up with one of my Christian girl friends. We come together every Wednesday night to talk and pray. Right now we are reading a book about becoming the person God has created us to be. Usually we read a chapter an evening and then talk about it, about our struggles and challenges but also, about our victories. Sometimes we just worship together or talk about a Bible passage. I love those evenings. It is good to have somebody know how things are in your relationship with God. Other than in Sunday services you can’t just sit and listen (or don’t listen), you have to be somewhat active. There have been weeks that those Wednesday nights were the only time I really spent some time with Jesus. It adjusts my focus and helps me turn back to God when I am beginning to slowly drift away.

[pullquote width="300" float="left"]There is nothing that I could ever do to make God love me less than He does right at this moment.[/pullquote]

What is something God is currently teaching you?

A lesson that I am learning right now is to be more courageous. He does this in so many different ways. I believe one milestone was launching Heldenmut4110. Another part of my life that He has been teaching me courage in is at church. Since last year I have been the leader of our youth group and this challenges me to be bold in my leadership. Sometimes I am scared that leading our youth group is a task too big for me, but I have to be courageous and trust that God will help me.

If you could tell your 18-year-old self something, what would it be?

When I was 18 I made the best decision in my life: I surrendered my life to Jesus and accepted Him as my savior. I found this question to be the hardest, but I think I would tell myself that there is nothing that I could ever do to make God love me less than He does right at this moment. Also, I can’t do anything to make Him love me more. His love is perfect and complete and I don’t have to pressure myself into getting better but just be open to the Holy Spirit to do His work.

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