2 Samuel. Chapter 13
3 Maar Amnon het 'n vriend gehad, met die naam van Jónadab, 'n seun van Dawid se broer Símea; en Jónadab was 'n baie skrander man.
36 En net toe hy klaar gespreek het--daar kom die seuns van die koning aan en verhef hulle stem en ween. En ook die koning en al sy dienaars het geween met 'n baie groot geween. Hoofstuk 9 ”Gee” – UiteindelikHoop.com
Gee, en vir julle sal gegee word:
‘n goeie maat, ingestamp, geskud en propvol,
sal in hulle in julle hande gee.
For this particular chapter, unlike knowing what to call it didn’t hit me immediately. Instead, I had so many titles I wanted to use. The message of giving is one that has been so abused, which ultimately led to its powerful principle being terribly neglected. The result of the abuse on giving, followed by the neglect of the message on giving, has caused the Christian community to no longer resemble “children of God”—instead we look like orphans.
Vir hierdie besonderse hoofstuk, sonder om te weet wat om dit te noem het dit my getref. In plaas daarvan het ek so baie titels gehad wat ek wou gebruik het. Die boodskap van gee is een wat so misbruik is, wat uitermatig gelei het tot hierdie kragtige beginsel wat verskriklik verwaarloos is. Die resultaat van die misbruik van gee, gevolg deur die verwaarlosing van die boodskap oor gee, het veroorsaak dat die Christelike gemeenskap nie meer lyk soos “kinders van God” —in plaas daarvan lyk ons soos wees kinders.
Here are a couple of my titles
Hier is ‘n paar van my titels
Give—The Path Out of Poverty
Gee—Die Pad Uit Armoede
Give When You Are in Need
Gee Wanneer Jy Behoeftig Is
As with every principle we have learned thus far, giving is totally the opposite of what comes naturally. When we are in need, giving is certainly the very last thing we feel like doing. I am no different than any of you. My flesh wants to control my life just like your flesh wants to control your life. Yet, as followers of the Lord (which being a Christian means), we are all striving to break out of our fleshly ways and live the abundant life, which means living by God’s principles through the leading of the Holy Spirit and applying His grace to every difficult situation.
Soos met elke beginsel wat ons tot dusver geleer het, is gee totaal die teenoorgesteldde van wat natuurlik kom. Wanneer ons behoeftig is, is gee sekerlik die laaste ding wat ons lus het om te doen. Ek is niks verskillend van enige een van julle nie. My vlees wil my lewe beheer net soos jou vlees jou lewe wil beheer. Tog, as volgelinge van die Here (wat om ‘n Christen te wees bedoel), streef ons almal om weg te breek van ons vleeslike maniere en die oorvloedige lewe te leef, wat beteken om deur God se beginsels te leef deur die leiding van die Heilige Gees en Sy genade in elke situasie aan te wend.
Being a follower means a dying to flesh and stepping out in faith, which is always unseen.
Om ‘n volgeling te wees beteken om die vlees dood te maak en uit te tree in geloof, wat altyd ongesien is.
If you have seen all of Erin’s video, you may remember her speaking of living “not by sight.” And like me, you learned that God actually sets us up in a place of need in order to bless us. That it’s at the juncture of our need when our fate, or blessing, stands before us, and it’s we who choose. Our flesh wants to pull back, withhold, and look for another resource to fill the need in our life. However, as believers we are asked, instead, to walk by our faith even though we can’t see what is up ahead. And it’s our trust in the Lord that presses us forward.
As jy al Erin se videos gesien het, mag jy onthou dat sy gepraat het van lewe “nie deur sig.” nie. En soos ek, het jy geleer dat God ons opstel in ‘n plek van nood om in staat te wees om ons te seën. Dit is op die tydstip van ons nood wanneer ons lot, of seëninge, voor ons staan, en dit is ons wat kies. Ons vlees wil terugtrek, weerhou, en vir ‘n ander bron soek om die behoefte in ons lewens te vul. Nietemin as gelowiges word ons gevra, in plaas daarvan, om in geloof te loop selfs al kan ons nie sien wat voorlê nie. En dit is ons vertroue in die Here wat ons voorentoe druk.
For those who did not see the video, let me say that the Lord set me up in a very, very ominous position. Early one morning, I had gone into my online banking to print off the bank statement for my personal account and the church account. The balance took me by total surprise, as there was NOTHING left in either one. Over the course of the “hardest year of my life” many church members left after my husband’s adultery was discovered: first, were the older members, then the men (who were also our largest donators), and later, the ones that remained, began experiencing financial hardship so they began not tithing or giving to the church. Let me pause here a moment and share this one principle that will literally change your life.
Vir die wat nie die video gesien het nie, laat ek sê dat die Here my opgestel het in ‘n baie, baie onheilspellende posisie. Vroeg een oggend, het ek in gegaan op my aanlyn bank om die bank state te druk vir my persoonlike rekening en die kerk rekening. Die balans het my heel onkant gevang, omdat daar NIKS oor was in ieder van hulle nie. Oor die koers van die “moeilikste jaar van my lewe” het baie kerk lidmate die kerk verlaat nadat my man se owerspel ontdek was: eerstens die ouer lidmate, toe die mans (wie ook ons grootste skenkers was), en later, die wat agter gebly het het finansiële teenspoed ervaar so hulle het begin om nie hulle tiendes te gee of om vir die kerk te gee nie. Laat my hier pouseer vir ‘n oomblik en die beginsel te deel wat jou lewe letterlik sal verander.
When you seem to have nothing left, you need to give in order to receive. If you fail to give, you will be left wanting.
Wanneer dit lyk asof jy niks oor het nie, moet jy gee om te ontvang as jy faal om te gee, sal jy behoeftig bly.
“There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more, and there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in want. The generous man will be prosperous, and he who waters will himself be watered” (Proverbs 11:24–25).
“Daar is mense wat vrylik uitdeel en tog steeds meer het, daar is ander wat suinig is en tog arm word. Wie ‘n ander voorspoed gun, sal self oorvloed hê. Wie die dors van ander les, sal self genoeg kry as hy dors is” (Spreuke 11:24-25).
The Message Bible puts it this way: “The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller. The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.”
Die Boodskap Bybel stel dit so: “ Wie baie vir ander gee, word al hoe ryker. Wie suinig is, word al hoe armer. Wie ander help om beter te lewe is self voorspoedig. Wie ander se nood raaksien, is ‘n gelukkige mens. As jy ander help, sal jy gehelp word as jy dit nodig het.
That morning, I was faced with utter ruin. For months, I had watched our church members update their personal profiles (that come into our office email) with “not giving” over and over and over again. On top of that, I had felt led (since it had been in my heart for YEARS) to give our prospective church members the required books to read for free online, rather than requiring them to purchase the books from our church bookstore. Then, due to this, our bookstore put these books on sale, and as a result, much of our church staff went to part-time since there no longer was enough work for full time employment.
Daardie oggend, het ek uiterste ondergang in die gesig gestaar. Vir maande het ek dopgehou hoe ons kerk lidmate hulle persoonlike profiele opdateer (wat in ons kantoor pos inkom) met “gee nie” oor en oor en weer oor. Om dit te kroon, het ek gelei gevoel (aangesien dit op my hart was vir JARE) om ons perspektiewe kerk lidmate die vereiste boeke gratis te gee om aanlyn te lees, eerder as om van hulle te verwag om dit van ons kerk boekwinkel aan te koop. Toe, as gevolg hiervan, het ons boekwinkel die boeke op uitverkoping geplaas, en as ‘n resultaat het meeste van ons kerk personeel deeltyds gegaan aangesien daar nie meer genoeg werk was vir voltydse werk nie.
If I wasn’t living life in the fast lane (that feels more like the German Autobahn), I could have watched our finances spiral downward, but I had been too busy to really take time to notice—until that morning. That morning was like a splash of cold water in my face. The Lord told me months earlier about some of these changes, but it was back when financially I was more than fine. God had purposely waited until I could see clearly that I was about to go under to ask me to give.
As ek nie in die vinnige baan gelewe het nie (dit voel meer soos die Duitse Aotobahn), kon ek toegekyk het hoe ons finansies afwaarts spiraal, maar ek was te besig om die tyd te neem om dit agter te kom—tot daardie oggend. Daardie oggend was soos ‘n spat koue water in my gesig. Die Here het vir my maande vantevore vertel van sommige van hierdie veranderings, maar dit was terug toe ek finansieël meer as goed was. God het aspris gewag totdat ek duidelik kon sien dat ek op die punt gestaan het om onder te gaan om my te vra om te gee.
“So when He heard that he [Lazarus] was sick, He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was . . . So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days” (John 11:6, 17).
“Nadat Hy gehoor het dat Lasarus siek is, het Hy egter nog twee dae op die plek gebly waar Hy was. .. Toe Jesus daar kom, het Hy gevind dat Lasarus al vier dae in die graf was” (Johannes 11:6,17).
The Lord had set me up for a huge blessing and so that His Father would be glorified. But for that to happen, He had to lead me to that one gate, which is narrow and hard to find. “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13–14).
Die Here het my opgestel vir ‘n groot seën sodat Sy Vader verheerlik kon word. Maar vir dit om te gebeur, Moes Hy my na die een hek toe lei, wat smal is en moeilik om te vind. “ Gaan deur die nou poort in. Die poort wat na die verderf lei, is wyd en die pad daarheen breed, en dié wat daardeur ingaan, is baie. Maar die poort wat na die lewe lei, is nou en die pad daarheen smal, en dié wat dit kry, is min.”
The Lord spoke to me that morning, just after seeing I had nothing left, that He wanted me to go into our online church store and discount all of our books, videos and audiotapes, but it didn’t end there. When that was complete, He told me to go in and set our church member discount code to 50% off, up from the 20% that we had been giving to our church members for years. The result would be us having no profit at all. The price would just cover our cost to print.
Die Here het met my gepraat daardie oggend, na ek gesien het ek het niks oor nie, dat Hy wou gehad het ek moet op ons kerk se aanlyn winkel gaan en op al die boeke, videos en audiobande afslag gee, maar dit het nie daar geëindig nie. Toe dit voltooi is, het Hy vir my gesê om ons kerk lidmate se lidmaat afslag te stel na 50% af, van 20% af op wat ons ons kerk lidmate gegee het vir jare. Die resultaat sou wees dat ons glad nie ‘n profyt sou maak nie. Die prys sou net ons koste om te druk dek.
Looking at the facts, this move would lead to our church collapsing, but what options did I really have? The Lord had taught me over the years to trust in Him and Him alone. No longer did works or devising a different plan enter my mind, and really I was in much too deep not to try something so stupid. On top of that, God had put in my heart a passion to give, which stemmed directly (or should I say “flowed directly”) from His heart of giving to mine.
Deur na die feite te kyk, hierdie stappie sou gelei het tot die ineenstorting van die kerk, maar watter opsies het ek regtig gehad? Die Here het my deur die jare vertel om op Hom te vertrou en op Hom alleenlik. Nie meer het werke of om ‘n plan uit te dink my gedagtes binne gekom nie, en regtig ek was te diep in om nie iets onnosel te probeer nie. Bo op dit, het God ‘n passie in my hart geplaas om te gee, wat direk ontstig het (of sou ek sê “direk gevloei”) het uit Sy hart van gee vir myne.
Over the course of the previous year, I had been given so much from the Lord: love, compassion, comfort, security, peace, joy, patience, goodness, and the list goes on and on. As a result, all I wanted to do was give: give of my time, give of my overflow of love, give away everything that had been given so freely to me! There had been so many times when I found myself at the end of all my resources, only to be put in a place where God asked me to give out of my lack, and when I did—I was again overflowing!
Oor die koers van die vorige jaar, was daar so baie vir my gegee van die Here af: liefde, deernis, vertroosting, sekuriteit, vrede, vreugde, geduld, goedheid, en die lys gaan aan en aan. As ‘n resultaat, al wat ek wou doen is gee: gee van my tyd, gee van my oorvloed liefde, gee weg alles wat so vrylik aan my gegee is! Daar was so baie kere wat ek myself aan die einde van my bronne gevind het, net om in ‘n plek geplaas te word waar God my gevra het om uit my tekort te gee, en toe ek dit gedoen het—was ek weer in oorvloed!
Let me share just a couple of examples that don’t include financial giving so that you can see that giving when you are in need is a principle to follow, not a law that we must obey or feel oppressed under.
Laat my net ‘n paar voorbeelde deel wat nie finansies insluit sodat jy kan sien dat gee wanneer jy behoeftig is ‘n beginsel is om te volg, nie ‘n wet wat ons moet gehoorsaam of verdruk moet voel nie.
The first one the Lord brought to mind was on my first, very long, meeting our church members’ tour. I was exactly half way through (flying to 14 cities in 16 days) and I was exhausted! I had no idea how I was going to make it. So I retreated to my room to talk to the Lord about it. While at my lowest, the Lord prompted me to go downstairs and to bless my precious hostess with a hair and makeup “make-over.” When I wanted to withdraw, the “opportunity” came for ME to give.
Die eerste een wat die Here my aan herinner het was op my eerste, baie lang, ontmoet ons kerk lidmate’ toer. Ek was presies halfpad deur (gevlieg na 14 stede in 16 dae) en ek was uitgeput! Ek het geen idee gehad hoe ek dit sou maak nie. So ek het na my kamer retireer om met die Here daaroor te praat. Terwyl ek op my laagste was, het die Here my aangehits om af te gaan en my kosbare gasvrou met ‘n hare en grimering “doen-oor” te seën.” Toe ek wou onttrek, het die “geleentheid” gekom vir MY om te gee.
That night I didn’t get to bed early as is my normal routine, but let me tell you that when I woke up, I had more energy and enthusiasm than I did when I began my trip! Instead of withholding, I gave out of the tiny bit of energy I had left and the result was nothing short of miraculous.
Daardie aand het ek nie vroeg bed toe gegaan soos my normale roetine nie, maar laat ek jou vertel toe ek wakker word, het ek meer energie en entoesiasme gehad as toe ek my reis begin het! In plaas van om te weerhou, het ek gegee uit die klein bietjie energie wat ek oor gehad het en die resultaat was niks minder as ‘n wonderwerk nie.l
The next opportunity that came to mind was again when I came to the end of myself (and my strength). It occurred a few months after my divorce when being “a single mom” again was taking its toll. I had just taken over my FHs position in our church (other than preaching), so that our income as pastors would continue. So on top of my own position with our church, which was ministering to thousands of women, I had to take over all his other duties at the church and also around our house. In addition, I had begun traveling two weeks out of every month to help recover from the adultery scandal when we lost many of our television audience and members. In addition, my children were still struggling with their own loss, so when I was home, I needed to take it on myself (relying on God’s strength of course), by taking over many of the chores my children used to do for me such as all the cooking.
Die volgende geleentheid wat ek kan onthou was toe ek tot die einde van myself geraak het (en my krag). Dit het ‘n paar maande na my egskeiding gebeur toe om weer ‘n “enkel ma” te wees swaar druk op my geplaas het. Ek het pas my VM se posisie in ons kerk oorgeneem (anders as preekwerk), sodat ons inkomste as pastore sou voort gaan. So bo op my eie posisies met ons kerk, wat ministering was aan duisende vrouens, moes ek al sy ander pligte oorneem by die kerk en by die huis. Ter aanvulling, ek het begin om twee weke uit elke maand te reis om te help om te herstel van die owerspel skandaal toe ons baie van ons televisie gehoor en lidmate verloor het. Ter aanvulling, het my kinders nog steeds gesukkel met hulle eie verlies, so wanneer ek by die huis was, moes ek dit op myself neem (staat maak op God se krag natuurlik), deur baie van die werkies wat my kinders vir my gedoen het soos die kookwerk oor te neem.
That day my strength seemed to run out. I was just sitting at my FHs desk in our home office wondering how I was going to make it, when God brought in the “opportunity” to overcome my exhaustion by giving so He could bless me.
Daardie dag het dit gelyk asof my krag uithardloop. Ek het net by my VM se lessenaar gesit in ons tuis kantoor en gewonder hoe ek dit sou maak, toe God die “geleentheid” ingebring het om my uitputting te oorkom deur te gee sodat Hy my kon seën.
First, an email came in from my brother who lives oversees. He wrote to tell me that he had “gone ahead and booked a flight for my niece” (who was 16 years old) to come to live with us for a year. I just sat there stunned (because I had written to him that she could NOT come, then later found out that I had actually sent it to the wrong email address). A moment later in walks my son who tells me that his friend was just kicked out of his house and asked if he could come live with us. Not only was it just another body in our home—this boy was huge and could really eat!
Eers, het ‘n epos ingekom van my broer af wat oorsee bly. Hy het geskryf en vir my gesê dat hy “voort gegaan het en ‘n vlug vir my broerskind bespreek het” (wie 16 jaar oud was) om by ons te kom bly vir ‘n jaar. Ek het net daar gesit verstom (omdat ek vir hom geskryf het en gesê dat sy NIE kon kom nie, en later uitgevind dat ek dit na die verkeerde epos adres toe gestuur het). ‘n Oomblik later loop my seun in en sê vir my dat sy vriend uitgeskop was uit sy huis uit en hy het gevra of hy by ons kan kom bly. Nie net was dit nog ‘n liggaam in ons huis nie—hierdie kind was groot en kon regtig eet.
Not ten minutes later, my daughter came in to ask me what she should do. It seemed that her friend had been locked out of her house, her mom was at a weeklong conference, and she didn’t know how to help her.
Nie tien minute later nie, kom my dogter in om my te vra wat sy moet doen. Dit lyk asof haar vriendin uit haar huis uitgesluit is, haar ma was weg op ‘n week lange konferensie, en sy het nie geweet hoe om haar te help nie.
At this point, our flesh wants to scream and run, but deep in our spirits, if we find that quietness in our hearts, we can faintly hear the Lord alluring us with His love, asking us to give. The abundance of His love has “set us up” in order to bless others, not to keep it for ourselves.
Op hierdie stadium, wil ons vlees net skree en hardloop, maar diep in ons gees, as ons die stilheid in ons harte vind, kan ons vaagweg hoor hoe die Here ons bekoor met sy Liefde, en ons vra om te gee. Die oorvloed van Sy liefde het ons “opgestel” om in staat te wees om ander te seën, en dit nie vir onsself te hou nie.
It is not until we are backed up against the Red Sea that the waters will part for us to walk through (not to mention our enemies being (drowned).
Dit is nie totdat ons teen die Rooi See gedruk is nie dat die waters vir ons sal skei om deur te loop (om nie te noem ons vyande wat verdrink word nie).
It is not until there is no wine at the wedding feast that the first miracle in our lives will be performed.
Dit is nie totdat daar nie meer wyn by die huweliks fees is wat die eerste wonderwerk in ons lewens uitgevoer sal word nie.
It is not until we have our last meal with our only child that a prophet will come along and ask us to bake him a cake, so that our kitchen will be filled with oil to pay off our debts and make us prosperous (read 1 Kings 17:8-16). Instead our flesh wants to eat to feed that cake to our own child who is starving and about to die.
Dit is nie totdat ons ons laaste maaltyd het met ons enigste kind wat ‘n profeet aankom en ons vra om hom ‘n koek te bak, sodat ons kombuis gevul sal word met olie om ons skuld af te betaal en ons voorspoedig maak nie (lees 1 Konings 17:8-16). In plaas daarvan wil ons vlees eet om die koek vir ons eie kind te voer wat honger ly en op die punt om dood te gaan.
Since I knew God and knew His principles, and also knew the Lord’s endless love for me, without the least inclination that it would lead to an abundance of strength, I gladly agreed to have my niece come to live with us, also the young man moved in downstairs with my boys, and so did my daughter’s friend, who shared their room upstairs. The result was finding unlimited energy that had been super charged by the Holy Spirit! I was able to take on more than I had before, and instead of struggling with the “poor me, what am I going to do” syndrome, I was able to fight against it with ease. Rather than struggling as I had just been feeling, I was gliding through everything with unlimited energy, joy in my heart, and praise on my lips. All I could see now was God’s hand and His provisions surrounding me, not the lack that was once looming over me.
Aangesien ek God geken het en Sy beginsels geken het, het ek ook die Here se eindelose liefde vir my geken, sonder die minste inklinasie dat dit tot ‘n oorvloed van krag sou lei, het ek met graagte ingestem dat my broerskind by ons kon kom bly, ook die jong man het onder ingetrek met my seuns, en so het my dogter se vriendin, wat hulle kamer bo gedeel het. Die resultaat was dat ek onbeperkte energie gevind het wat super gelaai was deur die Heilige Gees! Ek was in staat om meer as tevore aan te vat, en in plaas daarvan om te sukkel met die “arme ek, wat gaan ek doen” sindroom, was ek in staat om met gemak daarteen te baklei. Eerder as om te sukkel soos wat ek gevoel het, was ek in staat om deur alles met onperperkte energie te gly, vreugde in my hart, en lof op my lippe. Al wat ek nou kon sien was God se hand van voorsiening wat my omsingel, die tekort wat eens op ‘n tyd oor my opgerys het.
And ladies, it didn’t stop with physical abundance. Abundance is also where I am now financially, not impoverished like I was that morning when I looked at our bank balance. Just minutes after I obeyed and opened my home to 3 young people, the opportunity to get out of debt literally came to my door. The “lack” in our bank accounts ended in the most incredible blessing that I have ever seen, but not before the Lord showed me another place I needed to give out of my lack.
En dames dit het nie geëindig by fisiese oorvlod nie. Oorvloed is ook waar ek nou finansieel is, nie verarm soos ek daardie oggend was toe ek na ons bank balans gekyk het nie. Net een minuut nadat ek gehoorsaam het en my huis aan 3 jong mense oop gemaak het, het die geleentheid om uit die skuld te kom letterlik na my deur toe gekom. Die “tekort” in ons bank rekening het in die mees ongelooflike seën geëindig wat ek al ooit gesien het, maar nie voor die Here my ‘n ander plek gewys het waar ek uit my tekort moes gee nie.
Later that very same day, as I said, I had nothing in either of the bank accounts. The Lord had me go pick up a book order for our church library, which were mostly new bibles. Immediately after the young man loaded all the boxes into my car, the Lord spoke to me that He wanted me to give away everything, not charging anything, not even recovering our cost. Instead, He wanted me to sow these into the lives of the homeless in local shelters, and He laid out the entire plan as I was driving back to the church. All of these “opportunities” were leading me to fulfilling my huge financial need, but not before God allowed the final “opportunity” for me to give. The result was instantaneous—that very evening I opened my computer and a huge donation came in by email, which was the largest single donation our church had ever received!!
Later daardie selfde dag, soos ek gesê het, het ek niks in beide van die bank rekeninge gehad nie. Die Here het my ‘n boek laat optel vir ons kerk biblioteek, wat meesal nuwe bybels was. Onmiddelik nadat die jong man die dose in my kar gelaai het, het die Here met my gepraat dat Hy wou gehad het dat ek alles moes weg gee, niks vra nie, nie eens om ons kostes te herwin nie. In plaas daarvan, wou Hy het ek moes in die lewens van die haweloses in plaaslike skuilplekke saai, en Hy het die hele plan uitgelê soos ek terug gery het kerk toe. Al hierdie “geleenthede” het gelei tot ek my groot finansiële nood vervul het maar nie tot God die finale “geleentheid” vir my gegee het om te gee nie. Die resultaat was oombliklik—dieselfde aand het ek my rekenaar oopgemaak en ‘n groot donasie het per epos ingekom, wat die grootste enkel donasie was wat ons kerk ooit ontvang het.
Had I not obeyed each and every “opportunity” that the Lord presented to me, I would not have been open to receive the huge blessing I and our church received that day. Here is the principle to abundance:
Het ek nie gehoorsaam nie en en elke “geleentheid” geneem wat die Here aangebied het, sou ek nie oop gewees het om die groot seën te ontvang wat ons kerk daardie dag ontvang het nie. Hier is die beginsel tot oorvloed:
The bigger the crisis of need will require the larger obedience, which results in the greater the blessing that overflows—pressed down, shaken together, and running over.
Die groter die krisis of behoefte sal groter gehoorsaamheid verg, wat tot gevolg lei in die groter die seën wat oorvloei—ingestamp, geskud, propvol is.
Therefore, if your arms are burdened, carrying incidentals that belong to others, when He asks you to give—your arms will not be open to receive what He plans to give you.
Daarom, as jou arms belas is, en ‘n bykoste dra wat aan ander behoort, wanneer Hy jou vra om te gee—sal jou arms nie oop wees om te ontvang wat Hy beplan om vir jou te gee nie.
So many women want to have blessings like this in their lives, but are unwilling to give the tiniest thing they have in order to receive. Just begin to give what you have when you see that the Lord has given you the opportunity to do so.
So baie vrouens wil seëninge soos dit hê in hulle lewens, maar is ongewillig om die kleinste ding te gee wat hulle het om in staat te wees om te ontvang. Begin net om te gee wat jy het wanneer jy sien dat die Here jou die geleentheid gee om dit te doen.
One key principle that we must keep in the back of our minds, but not to the point that it will imprison us to be afraid to walk boldly with the Lord in the area of giving, is that the enemy, the devil, also loves to disguise himself to get us off track. How many times have I seen women literally “throw themselves off a cliff” only to find themselves in a mess for everyone to witness as a mocking to their “faith”? God does not ask us to do crazy things (remember the enemy has a voice too), though to some everything we do seems crazy. So how do we know the difference?
Ons sleutel beginsel wat ons in ons agterkop moet hou, maar nie tot op die punt dat dit ons sal inkerk om bang te wees om met vrymodigheid met die Here te loop op die gebied van gee nie, is dat die vyand, die duiwel, ook daarvan hou om homself te vermom om ons van koers af te kry. Hoeveel kere het ek vrouens gesien wat letterlik hulleself van ‘n “krans” af “gooi net om hulle self in ‘n gemors te vind vir almal om te attesteer as ‘n gespottery aan hulle “geloof”? God vra ons nie om waansinnige dinge te doen nie (onthou die vyand het ook ‘n stem), alhoewel vir sommige lyk die dinge wat ons doen waansinning. So hoe ken ons die verskil?
Of course, knowing God’s voice is key, and that happens just being in His presence and letting Him speak to you every morning and throughout the day. This is different than reading the Bible—but reading His Word is where you must start. Knowing His principles will also keep you from going astray because His Word gives you wisdom and lets you know what He might call you to do, and what He would tell you to do. Lastly, it is just sitting still and listening for that still small voice, so that you can recognize His voice over all the rest.
Natuurlik is God se stem die sleutel, en dit gebeur deur net om in Sy teenwoordigheid te wees en Hom toe te laat om elke oggend en gedurende die dag met jou te praat. Dit is anders as om die Bybel te lees—maar deur Sy Woord te lees is waar jy moet begin. Om Sy beginsels te ken sal jou ook weerhou om te verdwaal omdat Sy Woord jou wysheid gee en laat jou weet wat Hy jou mag roep om te doen, en wat Hy jou sal sê om te doen. Laastens, dit is net stilsit en luister vir daardie stil klein stem, sodat jy Sy stem bo al die res kan erken.
This also includes not asking for or listening to everyone’s opinion about what you should do. Even if you don’t “ask” for advice, you are going to get advice if you tell everyone (or even just a few or sometimes just one person) what is happening in your life. This is when that “gentle and QUIET spirit” needs to be put into action. Be quiet about what is going on in your life and instead talk to the Lord—turn off your phone so you know His voice above anyone else’s.
Dit sluit ook in om nie te vra of te luister na almal se opinie oor wat jy moet doen nie. Selfs al “vra” jy nie vir advies nie, jy gaan advies kry as jy vir almal vertel (of slegs net ‘n paar of somtyds net een persoon) wat besig is om in jou lewe te gebeur. Dit is wanneer daardie “sagmoedige en STIL gees” in aksie gesit moet word. Wees stil oor wat in jou lewe aangaan en praat eerder met die Here daaroor—skakel jou foon af sodat jy Sy stem bo enige iemand anders se stem sal weet.
Secondly, I have found that the enemy loves to get me off track by feeding my “self-righteous flesh.” He loves to puff me up so that I can imagine the great testimony I will be able to share if I do this or that! If this is your motivation, then it means you are instead throwing yourself off a cliff only to make a fool of yourself when things turn out badly.
Tweedens, ek het gevind dat die vyand daarvan hou om my van koers af te kry deur my “eie-geregtigde” vlees te voer. Hy hou daarvan om my op te pof sodat ek my die groot getuienis kan voorstel wat ek in staat sal wees om te deel as ek dit of dat doen! As dit jou motivering is, dan beteken dit dat jy jouself van ‘n krans af gaan gooi net om ‘n gek van jouself te maak wanneer dinge sleg uitdraai.
Another wrong motive is when some women do the outrageous in order to show someone, other than the Lord, how much they care or are willing to do to prove their love—especially husbands or FH. If this is your motivation, then you are still in idolatry by putting your husband (or someone else and their opinion or their love) above the Lord’s.
Nog ‘n verkeerde motief is wanneer sommige vrouens die verregaande doen om iemand, anders as die Here, te wys hoeveel hulle omgee of gewillig is om hulle liefde te bewys—vernaam aan hulle mans of VM. As dit jou motivering is, dan is jy nog steeds in idolatrie deur jou man (of iemand anders en hulle opinie of hulle liefde) bo die Here sin te stel.
For the most part, doing what God is calling you to do will mean 1) walking out one of God’s principles, like giving, 2) will be something that no one will praise you for, 3) and will be a testimony that you would rather not share with most people you know because they “wouldn’t understand” and probably think you’ve gone nuts.
Vir die meeste part, deur te doen wat God jou geroep het om te doen sal beteken 1) om een van God se beginsels toe te pas, soos gee, 2) iets sal wees waarvoor niemand jou sal prys nie, 3) en sal ‘n getuienis wees dat jy eerder nie met meeste mense sal deel nie omdat hulle nie sou verstaan nie en heel moontlik dink jy is van jou trollie af.
Here is another destructive motivation: “If I give $$$ to RMI my marriage will be restored.” Precious one, God doesn’t take bribes and RMI has never asked me or you for money. Usually when the Lord is calling you to give (or obey in another way) you don’t have a particular reward in mind. You are simply determined to give when asked or to obey when told.
Hier is nog n vernietegende motivering: As ek jou RRR aan HMI gee sal my huwelik herstel word,” Kosbare een, God neem nie omkoopgeld nie en HMI het jou nog nooit gevra vir geld nie. Gewoonlik wanneer die Here jou roep om te gee (of te gehoorsaam op n ander manier) het jy nie ‘n spesifieke beloning in gedagte nie. Jy is eenvoudig vasbeslote om te gee wanneer jy gevra word of te gehoorsaam wanneer jy gesê word.
Let me close with a few more testimonies, since God said that we would be able to overcome the wicked one by His precious blood AND by the word of our testimony (read Revelation 12:11).
Laat my afsluit met ‘n paar getuienisse, aangesien God sê dat ons die oorwinning oor hom sal behaal danksy die bloed van die Lam EN die boodskap waarvan ons getuig het (Lees Die Openbaring 12:11).
The first real big financial test for me happened immediately after my divorce when I, for the first time in 16 years, was in charge of our family’s finances. My husband left me all of our debt and was adamant that he would not be paying child support either. When I looked at ALL the bills, I was overwhelmed. So I went to the Lord to ask Him where I was to begin. He immediately brought to mind our church’s building pledge. We, as a couple, had pledged $10,000 to be paid over two years; yet there was less than two months left and $7,000 remained to be paid. The Lord said He wanted me to start there.
Die eerste groot finansiële toets vir my het gebeur onmiddelik na my egskeiding toe ek, vir die eerste keer in 16 jaar, in beheer was van ons familie se finansies. My man het my met al ons skuld gelos en het aangedring dat hy ook nie kinder ondersteuning sou betaal nie. Toe ek na AL die rekeninge gekyk het was ek oorweldig. So ek het na die Here toe gegaan om Hom te vra waar om te begin. Hy het my onmiddellik herinner dat ons kerk gebou ‘n verpand was. Ons, as ‘n paartjie, het ‘n belofte gemaak om R148000 aan die kerk te betaal oor twee jaar; tog daar was net twee maande oor en nog R103600 moes nog betaal word. Die Here het gesê om daar te begin.
Remember how I said I still have a way to go to not share what I am doing or about to do with others? Well I cannot tell you how many people tried to stop me from doing what, really, I could not do without God’s help. So I tried to explain I simply did not have that kind of money. But I knew that as I walked forward with the right heart, He would make a way if this was His plan. Amazingly God showed me the way and just two hours after I put that $7,000 dollar check in the offering, I received $10,000 dollars (the entire pledge) back!
Onthou hoe ek gesê het ek het nog steeds ‘n lang pad om te gaan om nie te deel wat ek op die punt staan om te doen met ander nie.? Wel ek kan jou nie sê hoeveel mense my probeer keer het om te doen wat, regtig, ek nie sonder God se hulp kon doen nie. So ek het probeer om te verduidelik dat ek eenvoudig nie daardie soort geld gehad het nie. Maar ek het geweet dat soos ek voorntoe geloop het met de regte hart, Hy ‘n pad sou maak as dit Sy plan was. Ongelooflik het God my die pad gewys in net twee ure na ek die R103600 tjek in die offerande geplaas het, ek het R148000 die hele verpand terug gekry!
My opening testimony, when I had nothing in our bank accounts, later led to an incredible refinancing option that would mean no debt other than a house payment (even my car was about to be paid off) and another check that a television member wrote to tell me was coming for my women’s ministry that was almost $15,000.
My openings getuienis, toe ek niks in ons bank rekeninge gehad het nie, het later gelei tot ‘n ongelooflike herfinansiering opsie wat sou beteken dat ek geen skuld behalwe die huis paaiement gehad het nie (selfs my kar was op die punt om afbetaal te word) en nog ‘n tjek wat ‘n televisie lidmaat geskryf het wat van my vrouens se ministerie af kom was amper R221000.
Remember, this happened only after I saw, that same morning, for me to pay the bills I could see would mean being overdrawn. I saw day-after-day the “not giving” updates from the members’ profiles, as I saw the drop in online book and video sales, but in comparison to the promises of God, asking me to trust Him, I was able to obey each time He asked me to give, even when I lacked, which enabled me to grow strong in faith and in the end, giving glory to God!
Onthou, dit het gebeur net na ek gesien het, dat dieselfde oggend, vir my om die rekeninge te betaal kon ek sien sou beteken dat ek oortrokke sou wees. Ek het dag na dag die “gee nie” opdaterings van die lidmate se profiele gesien, en ek het die daling in die aanlyn boeke en video verkope gesien, maar in vergelyking met die beloftes van God, wat my gevra het om op Hom te vertrou, was ek in staat om elke keer wat Hy my gevra het om te gee te gehoorsaam, selfs wanneer ek ‘n tekort gehad het, wat my in staat gestel het om sterk in geloof te groei en op die ou einde, die glorie aan God te gee!
“Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah's womb; yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform” (Romans 4:19–21).
“Al was hy sowat honderd jaar en al het hy dus goed besef dat sy liggaam reeds gedaan was en dat Sara te oud was om kinders te hê, het sy geloof nie verswak nie. Hy het nie in ongeloof begin twyfel aan die belofte van God nie, maar hy is in sy geloof versterk en het aan God die eer gegee. Hy was ook ten volle daarvan oortuig dat God mag het om te doen wat Hy beloof het” (Romeine 4:19-21).
Let me close by stating I deserve no pat on the back “oh ye of little faith,” but with the faith of a mustard seed I saw that mountain of financial lack plummeting into the sea.
Laat my afsluit deur te verklaar dat ek nie ‘n klop op die skouer verdien nie “ kleingelowiges” maar met die geloof van ‘n mosterd saad het ek gesien hoe die berg van finansiële tekort in die see tuimel.
Dear reader, sow that mustard seed of faith as the Lord leads you and watch for those “opportunities” to give when you are faced with a “lack” knowing that, precious one, God is about to open the Red Sea behind you—so pack your bags because you are about to walk through on dry land while the waters engulf and drown your enemies!
Liewe leser, saai die mosterd saad van geloof soos die Here jou lei en hou dop vir daardie “geleenthede” om te gee wanneer jy ‘n “tekort” in die gesig staar wetende dat, kosbare een, God op die punt staan om die Rooi See agter jou oop te maak—so pak jou tasse omdat jy op die punt staan om deur jou vyande te loop op droë land terwyl die waters jou vyande verswelg en verdrink!