Day 8: Leave it to God - 12 November 2019
Last Wednesday, 28-year-old Hector Mkansi took Nonhlanhla Soldaat out to a KFC restaurant in Vaal Triangle. Mkansi was unemployed for a long time before he started working again, while Soldaat is working at a high school in the area. Someone took a video while Mkansi went down on his knee to propose to Soldaat in the KFC restaurant. It went viral. Not everyone on Twitter was nice to the couple. One lady wrote: “South African men don't have style. Imagine someone proposing to you in KFC. I'll run out!”
Within minutes, the lady that criticized the couple was put in her place when dozens of companies and individuals stepped in to support the couple. The fast food restaurant offered to provide food for their wedding. Another company donated an ox. An airline company promised a five-day honeymoon and one of the Banks sponsored a large sum of money. Celebrities offered to perform for free at the wedding and a grocery store even donated R15,000 worth of groceries. The list goes on and on.
This story made me think of Joseph's words in Genesis 50:20 when his brothers realized who he was: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.” Also in Romans 8:28, we read: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him . . .” Also in Proverbs 5:21 we are reminded: “For the LORD sees clearly what a man does, examining every path he takes.”
God is a Righteous Judge. He sees everything and determines the future. He is therefore able to turn any unfair situation against us or unnecessary criticism to our advantage if we continue to trust Him. When He comes through, He always exceeds our expectations – just like the overwhelmed couple experienced.
Who treated you unfairly or caused hurt in your life? An ex-spouse? An employer? A mother-in-law? A friend? Let's take a step back and trust God to fight on our behalf. No situation is ever too difficult for Him to turn around. God bless.
Father God, thank you that I can lay down every difficult situation in my life before You. I specifically bring to you today (mention the situation). Please fight on my behalf and prove my innocence and bring reconciliation. I ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
• Photos: See a photo and video of the couple at www.benescke.co.za or
Dag 8: God sien alles - 12 November
Verlede Woensdag het die 28-jarige Hector Mkansi vir Nonhlanhla Soldaat na ’n KFC-kitskosrestaurant in die Vaaldriehoek uitgeneem. Mkansi was vir ’n tyd lank werkloos voordat hy onlangs weer begin werk het. Soldaat werk by ’n Hoërskool in die omgewing. Iemand het ’n video geneem van hoe Mkansi tussendeur die etery op sy knie afsak en vir Soldaat om haar hand vra. Die video het soos ’n veldbrand versprei op sosiale media. Tussen die gelukwensings was daar ook snedige opmerkings. Een vrou skryf op Twitter: “Suid-Afrikaanse mans het nie styl nie. Verbeel jou iemand vra die jawoord in die KFC. Ek sal uitloop!”
Binne minute is dié persoon op haar plek gesit en tientalle maatskappye en individue het ingeklim om te paartjie te ondersteun. Die kitskosrestaurant het aangebied om kos vir die troue te skenk. Nog ’n maatskappy het ’n hele bees geskenk. ’n Lugredery het ’n vyf-dag wittebrood beloof en een van die banke, ’n groot bedrag geld. Bekendes het aangebied om gratis by die troue op te tree en daar was selfs ’n kruidenierswarewinkel wat R15,000 se kruideniersware geskenk het. Die lys gaan aan en aan.
Hierdie storie het my laat dink aan Josef se woorde in Genesis 50:20 aan sy broers toe hulle in Egipte besef wie hy is: “Julle het slegte planne gemaak teen my, maar God het dit verander en Hy het dit ’n goeie plan gemaak.” Ook in Romeine 8:28 lees ons: “Ons weet dat God alles ten goede laat meewerk vir dié wat Hom lief het . . .” En in Spreuke 5:21 word ons herinner: “'n Mens se lewe lê oop voor die Here, elke tree wat jy gee, sien Hy.”
God is ’n Regverdige Regter. Omdat Hy alles sien en ook die toekoms bepaal, is Hy in staat om enige onregverdige situasie teen ons of ongegronde kritiek tot ons voordeel te verander – mits ons Hom daarmee vertrou. Wanneer Hy deurkom oortref Hy ons verwagtinge net soos hierdie paartjie wat nie kan glo wat hulle te beurt geval het nie.
Wie het jou seergemaak of te nagekom? ’n Voormalige huweliksmaat? ’n Werkgewer? ’n Skoonma? ’n Vriend of vriendin? Kom ons lê die strydbyle neer, gee ’n tree terug en vertrou dat God namens ons die stryd sal stry. Geen situasie is vir Hom te moeilik om om te draai en ten goede te laat meewerk nie. Sterkte.
Vader God, baie dankie dat ek elke moeilike situasie in my lewe voor U kan kom neerlê. Ek bring spesifiek vandag (noem die situasie) na U toe. Veg asseblief namens my en bewys my onskuld en bring versoening. Ek vra dit in die Naam van Jesus Christus. Amen.
• Sien foto van die paartjie by www.benescke.co.za of
Day 7: Fight the crocodiles - 11 November 2019
Earlier this month, the 11-year-old Rebecca Munkombwe of Hwange in Zimbabwe jumped on a crocodile's back and pressed her fingers into its eyes to save her friend, the 9-year-old Latoya Muwani. The animal, which was pulling Latoya underwater, let her go and she was rushed to the hospital with minor injuries.
Daily we have to be aware of crocodiles around us – threatening to pull us underwater. That person outside your marriage who gives you butterflies in your stomach, the forbidden deal that looks so attractive, that extra glass of wine daily that you can no longer cope without. At times we see the crocodiles threatening to pull our friends underwater. What is our reaction? Do we stand passively because we do not want to offend anyone? Or do we make our friends aware of the danger?
In Matthew 5:30 we read: " If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell."
If you know there is a crocodile swimming in your life, but you do not have the courage to remove it, today may be your day. Break all contact with that person that is causing harm in your marriage, step away from the deal that causes you to lose your integrity or pick up the phone and call the rehabilitation centre if you feel as if you are being submerged by that addiction.
When we are weak, God is strong. Press your fingers like little Rebecca into the crocodile's eyes so it will swim away and no longer disturb you. It might just save your life. God bless.
Father God, thank you for the gift of friends. Help me to fight the crocodiles in my life, but to also be there to help my friends that might find it difficult to do so. I ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
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Dag 7: Identifiseer die krokodille - 11 November 2019
Vroeër die maand het die 11-jarige Rebecca Munkombwe van Hwange in Zimbabwe op 'n krokodil se rug gespring en haar vingers in sy oë gedruk om sodoende haar maatjie, die 9-jarige Latoya Muwani se lewe te red. Die dier, wat besig was om Latoya onder die water in te trek, het haar laat gaan en sy is met ligte beserings na die hospitaal gehaas.
Daagliks is daar krokodille rondom ons, wat dreig om ons onder die water in te trek. Daardie persoon buite jou huwelik wat jou vlinders in jou maag gee, daardie verbode transaksie wat so aanloklik lyk, daardie ekstra glasie wyn op 'n dag wat jy weet jy nie meer sonder kan klaarkom nie. Soms sien ons hoe die krokodille van ons vriende onder die water begin intrek. Wat is ons reaksie? Staan ons passief omdat ons niemand wil aanstoot gee nie of reik ons juis in liefde uit omdat ons nie wil sien hoe enige krokodil verwoesting saai nie?
In Matteus 5:29-30 lees ons: "As jou regteroog jou dan laat struikel, ruk dit uit en gooi dit weg van jou af; want dit is vir jou beter dat een van jou lede vergaan en nie jou hele liggaam in die hel gewerp word nie. En as jou regterhand jou laat struikel, kap dit af en gooi dit weg van jou af; want dit is vir jou beter dat een van jou lede vergaan en nie jou hele liggaam in die hel gewerp word nie."
As jy weet daar is 'n krokodil wat in jou lewe rondswem, maar jy het tot dusvêr nie die moed gehad om dit te verwyder nie, is vandag dalk jou dag. Verbreek kontak met daardie persoon wat jou huwelik bedreig, stap weg van die transaksie wat jou ongemaklik laat voel omdat jy van jou integriteit moet inboet of maak die oproep na die rehabilitasiesentrum as jy voel asof die verslawing die oorhand in jou lewe kry.
Wanneer ons swak is, is God sterk. Spring op, druk jou vingers soos klein Rebecca in die krokodil se oë sodat dit wegswem. Dit mag dalk jou lewe red. Sterkte.
Vader God, baie dankie vir die geskenk van vriende. Help ons asseblief om braaf genoeg te wees om mekaar te red as krokodille dreig om ons onder die water in te trek. Versterk my ook asseblief vandag om weerstand te bied teen enige krokkodil in my lewe. Ek vra dit in die Naam van Jesus Christus. Amen.
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Day 6: Who is on the throne? - 8 November 2019
The State Administration of Press and Publication (SAPP) in China on Tuesday announced new rules for online video gaming for children in the country. No child under 18 is allowed to play video games between 22:00 and 08:00. Also weekday playtime is limited to 90 minutes a day and weekends and holidays to 3 hours per day. This is part of the country's strategy to curb digital addiction among young people.
Have you ever noticed how the current digital era has changed the world we are living in? Instead of sitting and chatting to the person next to you in the waiting room, we will rather take out our cell phone to scroll through social media or google a subject of interest. Even in restaurants you find two people sitting opposite each other, but both will be on their cell phones.
I can't help but wonder what effect limiting screen time will have on our families, marriages and even communities. Will we suddenly have more time for each other? Will we stop comparing ourselves with others if we have limited time on social media? Will we listen to each other more intently? Will we perhaps even be able to hear God's voice more clearly? As good as technology can be for us, it can also rob us of special momentswith our loved ones if we don't put boundaries in place.
In Leviticus 19: 4 we read: "Do not turn to idols or make metal gods for yourselves. I am the LORD your God." Also in Deuteronomy 5: 8-9 it is written: "You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God . . ."
When is something an idol in our lives? When it becomes more important to us than God. It can be our luxuries, outward beauty, our children, grandchildren, spouse, work, food, a hobby or even our cell phones.
Let us ask God to reveal to us if there is any "idols" in our lives. And let's take action and put boundaries in place. After all, it is only a relationship with God that fills us with true freedom and joy. God bless.
Father God, thank you so much for bringing every aspect of my life to You. Please show me if there is something in my life that is more important to me than you. I ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
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Dag 6: Wie is op die troon - 8 November 2019
Die Staat Administrasie van Pers en Publikasie (SAPP) in China het Dinsdag 'n aandklokreël vir aanlynvideospeletjies vir kinders onder 18 jaar in die land aangekondig. Geen kind mag meer tussen 22:00 en 08:00 aanlynspeletjies speel nie. Weeksdae se speeltyd is tot 90 minute per dag beperk en naweke en vakansiedae tot 3 ure per dag. Dié reël is deel van die land se strategie om digitale verslawing onder jongmense in te perk.
Het jy al dopgehou hoe ons samelewing in die digitale wêreld verander het? In stede van sit en gesels met die persoon langs jou in 'n wagkamer, is dit veel makliker om 'n selfoon uit te haal en deur sosiale media te kyk of om iets te soek op die Google-soekenjin. Soms sit mense selfs in 'n restaurant oorkant mekaar terwyl beide op hul selfoonskerms kyk.
Ek kan nie help om te wonder watter effek 'n beperking op skermtyd in ons land sal hê op gesinne, huwelike en selfs gemeenskappenie? Sal ons skielik meer tyd vir mekaar hê? Sal minder sosiale media veroorsaak dat ons onsself minder met ander vergelyk? Sal ons meer na mekaar luister? Sal ons selfs God se stem duideliker kan hoor? So goed as wat tegnologie vir ons kan wees, kan dit ons ook van spesiale oomblikke beroof.
In Levitikus 19:4 lees ons: "Julle mag nie afgode dien nie en julle mag nie vir julle afgodsbeelde maak nie. Ek is die Here julle God." In Deuteronomium 5:8-9 staan geskryf: "Jy mag vir jou geen gesnede beeld of enige gelykenis maak van wat bo in die hemel is, of van wat onder op die aarde is, of van wat in die waters onder die aarde is nie. Jy mag jou voor hulle nie neerbuig en hulle nie dien nie; want Ek, die HERE jou God, is 'n jaloerse God . . ."
Wanneer is iets in ons lewens 'n afgod? Dit word een sodra dit 'n groter plek in ons hart beklee as die Een wat ons gemaak het – ons weelde, uiterlike skoonheid, ons kinders, kleinkinders, huweliksmaat, kos, werk, 'n stokperdjie of selfs 'n selfoon.
Kom ons vra God om ons te wys as daar iets in ons lewens belangriker as Hy is. Indien wel, kom ons stel grense in. Hy begeer 'n verhouding met ons elkeen en slegs dít vul ons waarlik met vryheid en vreugde. Sterkte.
Vader God, baie dankie dat ek elke aspek van my lewe na U kan bring. Wys my asseblief as daar iets in my lewe is wat vir my belangriker as U is. Ek vra dit in die Naam van Jesus Christus. Amen.