Hoofstuk 4 “Gee dit Weg” – UiteindelikHoop.com
Gee, en vir julle sal gegee word: 'n goeie maat, ingestamp,
geskud en propvol, sal hulle in julle hande gee.
Met die maat waarmee julle meet, sal ook vir julle gemeet word.”
Right now I am in a slight financial crisis, so what better time than now to share the awesome principle that God is teaching me in my life? Most of you who face divorce and separation will also encounter financial crises, as they seem to go hand-in-hand. And with the financial crisis, fear uses it as an open door to torment you, and to attack your faith. This I speak of from personal experience.
Huidiglik is ek in ‘n effense finansiële krisis, so watter beter tyd as nou om die wonderlike beginsel wat God my in my lewe leer te deel? Meeste van julle wat egskeiding en geskeidenheid in die gesig staar sal ook ‘n finansiële krisis ervaar, vrees gebruik dit as ‘n oop deur om jou te martel, en jou geloof aan te val. Dit praat ek uit persoonlike ervaring.
The good news is, if we simply understand and embrace the principle of giving in the midst of your need, you will find, as I did, that God really designed trials to increase what you have, not simply to test your faith. Let me put it this way: when there is a “lack” in your finances (or any other area of your life), God wants you to give (as He leads you), so that He can increase what you have.
Die goeie nuus is, as ons eenvoudig verstaan en die beginsel om te gee ten midde van jou behoefte te omarm, sal jy vind soos ek het, dat God regtig beproewings ontwerp het om te vermeerder wat jy het, nie eenvoudig om jou geloof te toets nie. Laat my dit so stel: wanneer daar ‘n “tekort” skiet in jou finansies (of enige ander gebied van jou lewe), wil God hê jy moet gee (soos wat Hy jou lei), sodat Hy kan vermeerder wat jy het.
Of course, our flesh wants to do the opposite; when we are in need we tend to hide or hoard what we have. So like all things spiritual, we need to kill the flesh (by not feeding it) and instead walk in the spirit, so the spirit and our faith will increase. With this truth, you will now have the ability to change your state of mind, so that whenever there is a lack, you will rejoice knowing that God has designed this need in order to bring about an increase into your life!!
Natuurlik wil ons vlees hê ons moet die teenoorgestelde doen; wanneer ons behoeftig is neig ons om weg te kruip of om op te gaar wat ons het. Soos alle dinge spiritueel, moet ons die vlees doodmaak (deur dit nie te voer nie) en in plaas daarvan in die gees loop, so die gees sal ons geloof vermeerder. Met hierdie waarheid, sal jy nou die vermoë hê om jou gemoeds toestand te verander, sodat wanneer daar ookal ‘n tekort is, sal jy jou verheug en weet dat God dit ontwerp het om ‘n vermeerdering in jou lewe teweeg te bring.
When my husband announced he was divorcing me, he also told me that he was going to leave me all the family debt (much that was hidden), and that he would not pay child support. Ladies, when you are being backed into the Red Sea, which, may I say I found is a wonderful place to be, it is not the time to panic. It just means God is about to show up! I honestly prefer these major crises to the other minor ones because I can easily see that God is Who set me up. I used to think that it was the devil or some other such nonsense (such as the other person who was out to get me). And due to this ignorance, I can’t imagine how many times I missed one of God’s blessings since I fought against it—all the while He was trying to bless me. I’m still not sure, but I can’t remember anyone ever teaching me this principle, is it due to no one really understanding it?
Toe my man aangekondig het dat hy my gaan skei, het hy my ook vertel dat hy my gaan los met al die familie skuld (baie wat weggesteek was) en dat hy nie kinder ondersteuning sou betaal nie. Dames, wanneer jy in die Rooi see terug gestoot is, wat mag ek sê, ek gevind het ‘n wonderlike plek is om te wees, dit is nie die tyd om paniekerig te raak nie. Dit beteken net dat God op die punt staan om op te daag! Ek verkies eerlik hierdie groot krisisse teenoor die klein krisisse omdat ek maklik kan sien dat dit God is wat my opgestel het. Ek het gedink dat dit die duiwel of ander nonsens is (soos die ander persoon wat uit is om my te kry. ( En as gevolg van hierdie onkunde, kan ek my nie voorstel hoe baie keer ek uit gemis het op een van God se seëninge nie aangesien ek hierteen baklei het—en al die tyd was Hy besig om my te probeer seën. Ek is nog steeds nie seker nie, maar ek kan nie onthou dat enige iemand my ooit hierdie beginsel geleer het nie.
So, let’s make this clear, when you are faced with a lack or if you find someone who may appear to be pushing you into some sort of lack—don’t fight it and please don’t panic; instead rejoice—God is about to bless you! The verse that taught me what to do was this, “But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two” (Matthew 5:38–40).
So, kom ons maak dit duidelik, wanneer jy ‘n tekort in die gesig moet staar of as jy iemand vind wat mag lyk asof hulle jou in een of ander tekort stoot—moet nie daarteen baklei nie en asseblief moet nie paniek bevange word nie; in plaas daarvan verheug jouself—God staan op die punt om jou te seën! Die vers wat my geleer het wat om te doen was dit, “Maar Ek sê vir julle: Julle moet julle nie teen 'n kwaadwillige mens verset nie. As iemand jou op die regterwang slaan, draai ook die ander wang na hom toe. As iemand jou hof toe wil vat om jou onderklere te eis, gee hom ook jou boklere. As iemand jou dwing om sy goed een kilometer ver te dra, dra dit vir hom twee kilometer. Matteus 5:38-40).
Yet, even though Jesus told us what we should do, we instead want to hang onto our shirt or try to hide it. And God help us, we are not about to go one more mile! On the contrary, even Christians seek an attorney to hide money and maybe even try to get something from the other person who is in turn trying to get what we have. That’s what an attorney is paid to do, which is why I am so grateful Erin taught me early on to simply trust the Lord to fight our battles and release attorneys.
Tog, selfs al het Jesus vir ons gesê wat om te doen, wil ons eerder aan ons hemp vasklou of probeer om dit weg te steek. En God help ons, ons is nie op die punt om een myl te gaan nie! Inteendeel, selfs Christene soek ‘n prokureur om geld weg te steek en miskien selfs probeer om iets van die ander persoon te kry wat op sy beur probeer om te kry wat ons het. Dit is wat ‘n prokureur betaal word om te doen, dit is hoekom ek so dankbaar is dat Erin my vroeg geleer het om eenvoudig op die Here te vertrou om ons stryd te veg en ons prokureurs te laat gaan.
Let’s face it, when we act like the world does, we are showing our ignorance to God’s Word and His ways, and also proving that we are not His children, because if we were, we would not act so unbecomingly! And once we do act the way that is befitting an heir of our heavenly Father, we will prove to be so unusually strange that we cannot help but draw the lost to notice and soon they become believers in Jesus. Can you believe this added bonus to our increase?! This is what it means to “witness” to the lost, not handing them a track or reciting the Roman’s Road to salvation. The lost need to witness how we live differently.
Kom ons wees eerlik, wanneer ons optree soos die wêreld doen, bewys ons ons onkunde aan God se Woord en Sy weë, en bewys ons ook dat ons nie Sy kinders is nie, want as ons is, sou ons nie so onbetaam optree nie! En sodra ons optree op die manier wat gepas is van ‘n erfgenaam van ons hemelse Vader, sal ons bewys om so ongewoon vreemd te wees dat ons dit nie sal kan verhelp om die verlore aan te trek om dit agter te kom en gou sal hulle gelowiges in Jesus word. Kan jy glo hierdie bygevoegde bonus tot ons vermeerdering?! Dit is wat dit beteken om te “getuig” aan die verlore, nie om vir hulle ‘n trakaaitie oor te handig of die Romeinse Pad na redding vir hulle op te sê nie. Die verlore moet getuig oor hoe om anders te lewe.
So after each situation of need or lack that has recently been hitting me from every side, and also acknowledging with my lips, “God You’re about to bless me!” I can then go to my prayer closet to speak to the Lord to know just how He wants me to handle each situation.
So na elke situasie van behoefte of tekort wat my onlangs van elke kant getref het, en om ook met my lippe te erken, “ God U staan op die punt om my te seën!” Ek kan dan na my gebeds hoekie toe gaan om met die Here te praat om te weet hoe Hy wil hê ek elke situasie moet hanteer.
For instance, last week I received papers from our accountant that stated that we (which is now “I” since I agreed to take the debt) owe thousands in back taxes. As crazy as it sounds, I was quite excited to see what God was about to do since I knew He had set the entire thing up just to show me how powerful and faithful He is. The Lord loves to be praised, and just like any husband, He wants me to know just how wonderful He is as my Husband since I am now His new bride (at least I feel like a new bride)!
By voorbeeld, verlede week het ek papiere van die rekenmeester ontvang wat aangedui het dat ons (wat nou “ek” is aangesien ek ingestem het om die skuld oor te vat) skuld duisende in agterstallige belasting. So gek soos wat dit klink, was ek nogal opgewonde om te sien wat God op die punt staan om te doen aangesien ek geweet het dat Hy die hele ding opgestel het om te bewys hoe kragtig en getrou Hy is. Die Here hou daarvan om geprys te word, en net soos enige man, wil hy hê ek moet weet net hoe wonderlik Hy is as my Man aangesien ek nou Sy nuwe bruid is (ten minste voel ek soos ‘n nuwe bruid)!.
Also, knowing how finances (or the lack thereof) can easily bring in fear, I did not read the pages and pages of paperwork too carefully, and instead I left them on my desk until the following morning so that I would have ample time to discuss them with the Lord. I wanted to know what He wanted me to do, and certainly not to come up with a plan (not my plan nor anyone else’s, which is why I also never discuss my problems with anyone!). Let us never forget that with each and every trial, test, temptation, or crisis, God already has a plan in place that includes a blessing at the end. He does not want us to think up our own plan on how to get out. Instead, He simply waits for us to come to Him, not in a state of panic or pleading, but in utter trust just as a child would go to a father who could (and would) fix anything!
Ook, wetende hoe finansies (of ‘n tekort daaraan) maklik vrees kan bring, het ek nie die bladsye en bladsye papier werk te versigtig gelees nie, en het in plaas daarvan hulle op my lessenaar gelos tot die volgende oggend ek genoeg tyd kon hê om dit met die Here te bespreek. Ek wou geweet het wat Hy wou gehad het ek moes doen, en sekerlik om nie op te kom met ‘n plan (nie my plan of enige iemand anders se plan, wat die rede is wat ek nie my probleme met enige iemand anders bespreek nie!) Laat ons nooit vergeet, dat met iedere en elke beproewing, toets, versoeking, of krisis, het God alreeds ‘n plan in plek wat ‘n seën aan die einde insluit, Hy wag eenvoudig vir ons om na Hom toe te gaan, nie in ‘n toestand van paniek of pleit nie, maar in uiterste vertroue net soos ‘n kind sou gaan na ‘n vader toe wat kan (en sal) alles regmaak!
It was in my prayer closet when the Lord assured me that He had me “covered” and that He would lead me every step of the way regarding my taxes. Without actually saying it, He reminded me of what had happened just weeks earlier when I began following these principles: when I gave when I did not have anything (and only because He provided the ability to give once I told Him I would), and then He blessed me with an unexpected blessing of thousands of dollars!
Ek was in my gebeds hoekie toe die Here my verseker het dat Hy my “bedek” gehad het en dat Hy my elke tree van die pad sou lei aangaande my belasting. Sonder om dit eintlik te sê, het Hy my herinner van wat net weke vroeër gebeur het toe ek begin het om hierdie beginsels te volg: toe ek gegee het toe ek niks gehad het nie (en net omdat Hy my die vermoë gegee het om te gee toe ek vir Hom gesê het ek sou), en toe seën Hy my met ‘n onverwagte seën van duisende Rande!
Now back to the back taxes. The next morning, He led me to get my checkbook and to begin reading carefully through the papers that listed all the different checks for the federal and state back taxes owed. At each flip of the page, the amount continued to grow until I realized that I owed tens of thousands that would wipe out that beautiful safety net (the thousands of dollars remaining in my bank account), and while reading, I could hear the Lord whisper, “Do you trust me?” and I smiled with my answer, which was “Of course!”
Nou terug na die agterstallige belasting. Die volgende oggend, het Hy my gelei om my tjekboek te gaan haal en versigtig deur die papier te lees wat al die verskillende tjeks gelys het vir die federale en staat agterstallige belasting wat geskuld is. Met elke bladsy se oorblaai, het die bedrag voort gegaan om te groei totdat ek besef het dat ek duisende rande geskuld het wat my pragtige veiligheids net (die duisend rande wat in my bank rekening gebly het) sou uitwis, en terwyl ek besig was om te lees, kon ek hoor hoe die Here fluister, “Vertrou jy my?” en ek het geglimlag met my antwoord, wat natuurlik was “ Verseker!”
So He led me to write out one check after another. When I was done, He led me to leave the checks there on my desk. That night and the next morning, each time I would think about the back taxes, I would tell my Beloved that He was all I wanted, He was all I needed and how much I loved and adored Him. The next morning, when I was about to put all the checks into the proper envelopes to mail, God opened my eyes to the fact that I could not write these checks out of the church account as I had, but that they were personal taxes that I needed to pay out of our personal account! If this amount could wipe out that large safety net in our church account, there was no way I had that kind of money in my personal account!
So Hy het my gelei om een tjek na die ander uit te skryf. Toe ek klaar was, het Hy my gelei om die tjeks op my lessenaar te los. Daardie aand en die volgende oggend, elke keer wat ek aan die agterstallige belasting gedink het, het ek vir my Beminde gesê hoe lief ek Hom het en hoe ek Hom adoreer. Die volgende oggend, toe ek op die punt staan om al die tjeks in die behoorlike koeverte te plaas om te pos, het God my oë oopgemaak tot die feit dat ek nie hierdie tjeks kon uitskryf uit die kerk se rekening soos wat ek gedoen het nie, maar dat dit persoonlike belasting was wat ek uit die persoonlike rekening moes betaal! As hierdie bedrag die groot veiligheids net in ons kerk rekening kon uitwis, is daar geen manier wat ek daardie soort geld in my persoonlike rekening kon hê nie.
Yet when I told the Lord this, He simply asked me again if I trusted Him and told me, “It is there.”
Tog toe ek vir die Here dit vertel. Het Hy my eenvoudig weer gevra of ek Hom vertrou het en Hy het vir my gesê, “Dit is daar.”
Ladies, we are asked to believe what we do not see, and trust God for each miracle by faith, therefore I did believe even though I “saw” I had nothing, and God was again wonderfully faithful! The Lord led me again to calmly write out one check at a time from my personal account, until finally there was only one check left to pay. That was when He led me to stop. When I did, I realized it was the largest check and that I had actually written the other checks “out of order” of their due date. That’s when the enemy tried to hound me about leaving this one unpaid and primarily torment me about paying the debts “out of order.” Yet I went ahead and left that one debt for almost a week until the Lord led me back to the papers and my checkbook.
Dames, ons word gevra om te glo wat ons nie sien nie, en om op God te vertrou vir elke wonderwerk deur geloof, daarom het ek geglo selfs al het ek “gesien” ek het niks nie, en God was weer wonderbaarlik getrou! Die Here het my weer gelei om kalm een tjek op ‘n slag uit te skryf uit my persoonlike rekening uit, totdat finaal daar net een tjek oor was om te betaal. Dit was toe wat Hy my gelei het om te stop. Toe ek gestop het het ek besef dit was die grootste tjek en dat ek die ander tjeks “uit orde” van hulle gestelde dag geskryf het. Dit was toe dat die vyand my gevolg het omdat ek hierdie een onbetaald gelos het en my hoofsaaklik geteister het oor ek die skuld “uit orde” uit betaal het.” Tog het ek voort gegaan en daardie skuld vir amper ‘n week gelos totdat die Here my terug gelei het na die papiere en my tjekboek.
When the ordeal was all said and done, I had paid all of our back taxes out of my personal account!! There is no way that was possible—no way!! But He made a way, though I cannot explain how He did it!
Toe die vuurproef alles oor en verby is, het ek al ons agterstallige belasting uit my persoonlike rekening betaal!! Daar is geen manier dat dit moontlik was nie—geen manier!! Maar Hy het ‘n pad gemaak, alhoewel ek nie kan verduidelik hoe Hy dit gedoen het nie.
So, when facing my new financial crisis this week, all of my own testimony ran through my mind, when once again, I was pressed back to the Red Sea. I am sure that it was the after-effect of the back taxes, but this week when it came time to pay the mortgage payment for our home, I knew it was not there. I had nothing at all. What was sad, but made me laugh, was that I didn’t even have enough to pay for a field trip for my three youngest children—a total of just $6.00 (I hope you are laughing too)! I had just finished writing out payroll checks and paying the church bills, and that was when I came face-to-face with the Red Sea again.
So, toe ek my nuwe finansiële krisis hierdie week in die gesig moes staar, het alles van my eie persoonlike getuienis deur my gedagtes geflits, waar ek weer eens teen die Rooi See gedruk was. Ek is seker dit is die nagevolge van die agterstallige belasting, maar hierdie week toe dit kom om die huis lening moes betaal, het ek geweet dit was nie daar nie. Ek het hoegenaamd niks gehad nie. Wat hartseer was, maar wat my maak lag het, was dat ek nie eens genoeg gehad het vir ‘n uitstappie vir my drie jongste kinders—’n totaal van R14 (ek hoop jy lag ook)! Ek het net klaar gemaak om die salaris tjeks uit te skryf en die kerk rekeninge te betaal, en dit was toe dat ek weer van aangesig tot aangesig met die Rooi See geword het.
What also made me laugh was that this was one area that my FH had mocked me on and that he kept telling me would happen. He had even made it a point to tell our older children that I was going to “lose the house” with my “foolish giving” that I had foolishly claimed was “faith.” Of course I never tried to defend myself because Lord knows I am a fool. 1 Corinthians 1:27 says, “For God has chosen the foolish of the world to shame the wise, and He has chosen the weak of the world to shame the mighty.” Yep, that’s me.
Wat my ook maak lag het was dat dit die een gebied was waar my VM my gespot het en wat hy my aanhou vertel het sou gebeur. Hy het selfs ‘n punt daarvan gemaak om ons ouer kinders te vertel dat ek die “huis sou verloor” met my “dwaaslike gee” wat ek dwaaslik geeis het was “geloof.” Natuurlik het ek nooit myself probeer verdedig nie omdat die Here weet ek is ‘n dwaas. 1 Korintiërs 1:27 sê, “En tog, wat vir die wêreld onsin is, het God uitgekies om die geleerdes te beskaam; wat vir die wêreld swak is, het God uitgekies om die sterkes te beskaam.” Ja,dit is ek.
Though I normally try to do all the accounting on Saturdays, I had no idea what to do. So when I do not know what to do, I do nothing; I do not even think about what to do. Again, I left the checkbook and bills and went upstairs to rest in the Lord and in His goodness. I took every opportunity to get alone with the Lord, not so He could reassure me, nor so I could cry or plead, because I was actually full of joy and excitement. I got alone with Him simply to affirm my love for Him and His for me—telling Him that He was all I wanted and all that I needed. It was near the end of each of our little rendezvous when the Lord would tell me “It’s there,” meaning that the money was there. I know that I did not know where it was hidden, but if He said it was there, He would show me how to find it.
Alhoewel ek normaalweg probeer om al die rekeningkunde Saterdae te doen. Het ek geen idee gehad wat om te doen nie. So wanneer ek geen idee het wat om te doen nie, doen ek niks; ek dink nie eens aan wat om te doen nie. Weer, het ek die tjekboek en rekeninge gelos en by die trappe opgegaan om in die Here en Sy goedheid te rus. Ek het elke geleentheid geneem om alleen met die Here te wees, nie sodat Hy my kon verseker nie, nog minder sodat ek kon huil of pleit, maar omdat ek vol vreugde en opgewondenheid was. Ek het alleen saam Hom geraak om eenvoudig my liefde vir Hom te bevestig en Syne vir my—en om vir Hom te sê dat Hy alles is wat ek wou gehad het en nodig gehad het. Dit was naby die einde van elk van ons rendezvous toe die Here my vertel het “dit is daar,” wat beteken het dat die geld daar was. Ek weet dat ek nie geweet het waar dit weggesteek was nie, maar as Hy gesê het dit was daar, Hy sou my wys hoe om dit te vind.
Let me interject that God has done wonders in building my faith. I have seen Him do the incredible, and to increase my faith, I spend lots of time every day thinking about each time He has come through and blessed me. “Counting” and listing my blessings, one-by-one each day is what lulls me to sleep, and it’s also how I wake up each morning by repeating them again. I do it to renew my mind, and in all my time alone with Him I also love to tell Him how wonderful this or that was.
Laat my tussenvoeg dat God wonders gedoen het om my geloof op te bou. Ek het gesien hoe Hy die ongelooflike doen, en om my geloof te vermeerder, spandeer ek baie tyd elke dag en dink aan elke keer wat Hy deur gekom het en my geseën het.“Tel,” en my seëning noteer, een-vir-een elke dag is wat my aan die slaap sus, en dit is ook hoe ek elke oggend wakker word en hulle weer herhaal. Ek doen dit om my gedagtes te hernu, en in al my tyd alleen met Hom hou ek ook daarvan om Hom te vertel hoe wonderlik dit of dat was.
In addition, I never keep exciting things to myself. I also find many opportunities to tell others about each miracle He has done. And because I have five children, I like to tell them each separately. Because each time I speak about it, it increases my faith (and theirs) and it also gives God the glory He deserves. So often when God comes through for us, we barely acknowledge that it happened. This weakens our faith rather than builds it. Those who send praise reports to RMI, which by the way I love to read, and who make a point of telling others of God’s faithfulness, are those who see great and mighty things in their lives! So when God does something, think back when you did not know what you would do, and then how perfectly He worked it out for you. Think of it over and over and over again, and use each opportunity to increase other people’s faith by sharing your testimony each time God gives you the opportunity. This also fulfills the principle of giving away when you’re in need, and also is “witnessing.” So if you need more faith, give away what you have by sharing what He’s done for you in the past.
Ter aanvulling, hou ek nooit opgewonde dinge vir myself nie. Ek vind ook baie geleenthede om ander van elke wonderwerk te vertel wat Hy gedoen het. En omdat ek vyf kinders het, hou ek daarvan om hulle elke een apart te vertel. Omdat elke keer wat ek daarvan praat, vermeerder dit my geloof (en hulle sin) en dit gee ook aan God die glorie wat Hy verdien. So dikwels wanneer God deur kom vir ons, erken ons skaars dat dit gebeur het. Dit verswak ons geloof eerder as om dit te bou. Die wat lof verslae aan HMI stuur, wat per slot van sake ek van hou om te lees, en wie ‘n punt maak om ander te vertel van God se betroubaarheid, is diegene wat groot en magtige dinge in hulle lewens sien! So wanneer God iets doen, dink terug waar jy nie geweet het wat jy sou doen nie, en dan hoe perfek Hy dit vir jou uitgewerk het. Dink dit oor en oor en weer oor, en gebruik elke geleentheid om ander mense se geloof te vermeerder deur jou getuienis te deel elke keer wat God jou die geleentheid gee. Dit vervul ook die beginsel van weg gee wanneer jy behoeftig is, en is ook “attesteer.” So as jy meer geloof nodig het, gee weg wat jy het deur te deel wat Hy vir jou in die verlede gedoen het.
So, it was the next morning, which was a Sunday, when I woke up in my usual way by telling the Lord how happy He makes me and how much I loved Him and listing everything wonderful He did for me the day before, when God brought something to my mind. He reminded me that when my FH moved away, he had asked for “a loan,” which wiped me out financially (making it impossible to meet our payroll. By the way, I did not “loan” the money to him, but instead I told him that it was a gift he did not have to pay back). That week, because there wasn’t enough, He told me not take a paycheck (or I would not have been able to pay our employees). But then I remembered, I still had my huge safety net (it was still there, remember, because I miraculously paid all the back taxes from my personal account!). Therefore, just as the Lord had said, the money was there! I simply paid myself a back paycheck owed to me, but in my mind, as I quickly calculated it, I would still be short—but I wasn’t! I was able to pay all (not just some) of our family’s personal bills. Though it has been more than 24 hours since this miracle occurred, I am still blown away and I can’t figure out how He did it!! It’s impossible. Mark 10:27, “Looking at them, Jesus said, ‘With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.’”
So, dit was die volgende oggend, wat ‘n Sondag was, toe ek op die gewone manier wakker word deur vir die Here te vertel hoe gelukkig Hy my maak en hoe baie lief ek vir Hom is en alles lys wat Hy vir my die dag vantevore gedoen het, toe God my aan iets herinner het. Hy het my herinner toe my AM weg getrek het, het hy gevra vir “‘n lening,” wat my finansieël uitgeroei het (en dit onmoontlik gemaak het om die salarisse uit te betaal. Per slot van sake ek het nie die geld vir hom “geleen” nie, maar vir hom gesê dit was ‘n geskenk wat hy nie nodig gehad het om terug te betaal nie). Daardie week omdat daar nie genoeg was nie, het hy vir my gesê om nie ‘n salaris te trek nie (of ek sou nie in staat gewees het om ons werknemers te betaal nie). Maar toe het ek onthou, ek het nog steeds my groot veiligheids net gehad (dit was nog daar, onthou, omdat ek wonderbaarlik al die agterstallige belasting uit my persoonlike rekening betaal het!) Daarom, net soos wat die Here gesê het, die geld was nog steeds daar! Ek het myself eenvoudig ‘n agterstallige tjek wat aan my verskuldig was betaal, maar in my gedagtes, soos wat ek gou kalkuleer het, sou ek nog steeds tekort geskiet het—maar dit was nie! Ek was in staat om (almal) nie net sommige van ons familie se rekeninge te betaal nie. Alhoewel dit al meer as 24 uur is vandat hierdie wonderwerk plaasgevind het, is ek nog steeds stom geslaan en weet ek nie hoe Hy dit gedoen het nie!! Dit is onmoontlik. Markus 10:27, Jesus het reguit na hulle gekyk en gesê: “Vir mense is dit onmoontlik maar nie vir God nie, want vir God is alles moontlik.”’
Before I had paid my house payment, the Lord had led me to write a very large check to our African Missionaries, and still there was more than enough in my personal account! Later, knowing that I needed to increase what I had (not just get the bills paid), I asked God how else He wanted me to give. Immediately, I remembered that one of my sons was in need of a comforter set for his bedroom. So, while running errands a few days ago, I had seen masculine comforters at a nearby store, and I remembered that when we had moved into our new home, this son was the only one who did not get a new comforter set for his bed. So after church, I headed to the store that the Lord had placed in my mind. I knew I would find just what I needed, which I did. And later when I told my son what I had bought for him, he told me that this was something he kept thinking that he needed to get, but he did not have the money for it, so he had trusted God to provide. God wanted to bless him, and He chose to use me!
Voordat ek die huis paaiement gehad het, het die Here my gelei om ‘n baie groot tjek aan ons African Missionaries te skryf, en nog steeds was daar nog genoeg in my persoonlike rekening! Later, wetende dat ek moes vermeerder wat ek gehad het (nie net die rekeninge betaal nie), het ek vir God gevra hoe anders Hy wou gehad het ek moes gee. Onmiddelik het ek onthou dat een van my seuns ‘n bed stel vir sy slaapkamer nodig gehad het. So, terwyl ek besig was om inkopies te doen, onthou ek ek het manlike bed stelle by ‘n winkel naby gesien, ek het onthou dat toe ons ingetrek het in ons nuwe huis, was hierdie seun die enigste een wat nie ‘n nuwe bed stel vir sy bed gekry het nie. Ek het geweet dat ek sou vind net wat ek nodig gehad het, en ek het. En later toe ek vir my seun sê wat ek vir hom gekoop het, het hy vir my gesê dat dit iets was wat hy aanhou dink het wat hy nodig het om te kry, maar hy het nie die geld daarvoor gehad nie, so hy het op God vertrou om te voorsien. God wou hom seën, en Hy het gekies om my te gebruik!
Since there is still a need in my bank account, and I know that God brought this need in order to, once again, increase what I have, I will continue to look for opportunities to give. Many different ideas have come into my mind, but I will simply wait and allow the Lord to begin opening the doors to the ones that are His idea and not mine. What I love is that we do not have to make things happen, all we have to do is to walk toward the doors that the Lord illuminates in our minds or hearts, and then wait for Him to open the door (as a Gentleman would). And if a door does not open, just keep moving towards another open door. Never, ever force a door open—His ways are effortless; the only effort will be in exercising your faith.
Aangesien daar nog steeds ‘n behoefte in my bank rekening is, en ek weet dat God hierdie behoefte gebring het om in staat te wees, om weer eens, te vermeerder wat ek het, sal ek voort gaan om te soek vir geleenthede om te gee. Baie verskillende idees het in my gedagtes opgekom, maar ek wil eeenvoudig wag en die Here toelaat om te begin om deure oop te maak vir die wat Sy idee is en nie myne nie. Waarvan ek hou is dat ons nie hoef te maak dat dinge gebeur nie, al wat ons moet doen is om na die deure toe te loop wat die Here in ons harte en gedagtes illumineer, en wag dan vir Hom om die deur oop te maak (soos wat ‘n Heer sou). En as ‘n deur nie oopgaan nie, hou net aan beweeg na ‘n ander oop deur. Moet nooit, ooit ‘n deur oop forseer nie—Sy maniere is altyd sonder inspanning; die enigste inspanning sal wees om jou geloof uit te oefen.
Testimony: More Giving
Getuienis: Meer Gee
The principle of giving when you are in need is not just applicable to finances and money, it also holds true for every area of your life. When I was feeling the effects of being a “single mom of five,” my son asked me about his friend moving in for a week since he had nowhere to go. Within a few hours, my daughter’s friend found that she was locked out of her house because her mom was away for almost two weeks, so I suggested that she stay with us. That’s because I knew that God was about to increase my strength and stamina, and I wanted to work with God!
Die beginsel van gee wanneer jy behoeftig is is nie net van toepassing op finansies en geld nie dit is ook waar vir elke gebied van jou lewe. Toe ek die effek gevoel het om ‘n “enkel ouer van vyf,” te wees het my seun my gevra of sy vriend vir ‘n week kan intrek aangesien hy nerens gehad het om te gaan nie. Binne ‘n paar ure, het my dogter se vriendin uitgevind dat sy by haar huis uitgesluit was omdat haar ma vir amper twee weke weg was, toe stel ek voor dat sy by ons bly. Dit is omdat ek geweet het dat God op die punt gestaan het om my krag en stamina te vermeerder, en ek wou saam God werk!
That same week, my brother who lives in Asia had for some unknown reason, not gotten my emails that his daughter could not come live with us for a year to go to school, and he was pressing me to make the arrangements for her flight! Once I cooperated with what the Lord was doing, I found myself with strength and stamina that I did not know I had! In my need, God brought opportunities to give away what little strength I had left in order to give me the increase I needed!! And now whenever I have financial troubles, I know that I need to watch for what God wants me to do to give away what little I have left.
Dieselfde week, het my broer wat in Asia woon vir een of ander onverklaarbare rede, nie my eposse ontvang dat sy dogter nie by ons kon kom bly vir ‘n jaar om skool te gaan nie, en hy het my gedruk om die reëlings vir haar vlug te maak! Toe ek saam met die Here gewerk het met wat Hy besig was om te doen, het ek myself met krag en stamina gevind wat ek nie geweet het ek gehad het nie! In my behoefte, het God geleenthede gebring om die bietjie krag wat ek gehad het weg te gee om my in staat te stel om my die vermeerdering te gee wat ek nodig gehad het!! En nou wanneer ookal ek finansiële probleme het, weet ek ek moet dophou vir wat God wil hê ek moet doen om die bietjie wat ek oor het weg te gee.
God showed me this principle many years ago when I was breastfeeding my babies. The more my babies nursed, the more milk I had. Many doctors or lactation specialists will sadly tell a mother that she needs to supplement with formula and that she does not have enough milk when her baby is fussy and wants to nurse all the time! But the truth is that God made that perfect baby and gives the mother all the food for her growing baby. Though I had doctors telling me that I would have to supplement (since I had huge babies, one close to 12 pounds at birth), I knew that I would have enough milk if I just would sit still and let my baby nurse as much as he wanted at each growth spurt!
God het my jare terug die beginsel gewys toe ek my babas geborsvoed het. Hoe meer my babas gevoer het, hoe meer melk het ek gehad. Baie dokters of laktaat spesialiste sal droewiglik vir ‘n moeder sê sy moet met formula aanvul en dat sy nie genoeg melk het wanneer haar baba knieserig is en die heeltyd wil suig! Maar die waarheid is dat God daardie baba perfek gemaak het en die ma al die kos gee vir haar groeiende baba. Alhoewel ek dokters gehad het wat vir my gesê het dat ek moet aanvul (aangesien ek groot babas gehad het, een naby aan 5 kg by geboorte), het ek geweet dat ek genoeg melk sou hê as ek net sou stil sit en toelaat dat my baba suig soveel as wat hy wou hê met elke groei vlaag.
Not only did I not have to supplement my baby’s diet with formula, I was able to donate my excess milk to a neonatal hospital. At one point they asked me to help a little girl who could only tolerate my milk. So the hospital sent out a cab to pick up my milk each day. During this crisis, I decided to feed my baby one side and gave the milk from the other side to the hospital. Months later, I received a picture of the healthy little girl who well enough and able to go home to her family.
Nie net het ek nie nodig gehad om my baba se dieet aan te vul met formula nie, ek was in staat om my surplus melk aan ‘n neonatale hospitaal te skenk. Op een stadium het hulle my gevra om ‘n klein dogtertjie te help wie net my melk kon verdra. So die hospitaal het elke dag ‘n huurmotor gestuur om my melk op te tel. Gedurende hierdie krisis het ek besluit om my baba aan die een kan te voed en die melk van die ander kant aan die hospitaal. Maande later, het ek ‘n foto ontvang van die gesonde klein dogtertjie wie gesond genoeg was om huistoe te gaan na haar familie toe.
God wants to do great things when we trust Him enough to give away what we naturally want to hang onto or hoard because we fear that we will not have enough. As I keep saying, this principle works in every area of your life: finances, love, strength, and time—the list is endless. When you begin to notice a “lack” in any area of your life, this is when God is saying, “I am about to increase what you have! Now, put your faith to work for you. Believe what you don’t see, walk in that faith. Don’t pull back; don’t begin to fear that you will run out. I am your Source, but I need your faith, shown by your works (walking it out) for this spiritual law to manifest itself.”
God wil groot dinge doen wanneer ons Hom genoeg vertrou om weg te gee waaraan ons natuurlik wil aanhang of ophoop omdat ons vrees dat ons nie genoeg gaan hê nie. Soos wat ek aanhou sê die beginsel werk in elke gebied van jou lewe: finansies, liefde, krag, en tyd—die lys is eindeloos. Wanneer jy begin om ‘n “tekort” in enige gebied van jou lewe agter te kom, dit is wanneer God sê, “Ek is op die punt om te vermeerder wat jy het! Nou, plaas jou geloof om vir jou te werk. Glo wat jy nie sien nie, loop in geloof. Moet nie terug hou nie; moet nie begin vrees dat jy sal tekort skiet nie. Ek is jou Bron, maar ek het jou geloof nodig, wys deur jou werke (loop dit uit) vir hierdie spirituele wet om dit self te manifesteer.
And walking out your faith does not mean that you say, “Let me give this, this and this,” but instead, watch for the opportunities that the Lord brings and sets before you. They will be large and small. One morning, I saw an opportunity to bless a teen (whom I know needs Jesus) with a cup of Starbucks coffee. When she resisted, I was able to share with her how God loves to bless us and that I was excited when God showed me areas where I could bless others! So she took it understanding where my Source is, and where hers could be too. There are so many who need to see evidence in order to understand the goodness of God, but how will they know if they don’t see it first hand in our lives?
En deur jou geloof uit te loop beteken nie dat jy sê, “Laat my dit gee, dit en dit,” maar in plaas daarvan, kyk uit vir die geleenthede wat die Here bring en voor jou uitsit. Hulle sal groot en klein wees. Een oggend, het ek ‘n geleentheid gehad om ‘n tiener te seën (wie ek weet het Jesus nodig gehad) met ‘n koppie Starbucks koffie. Toe sy weerstaan het, was ek in staat met haar te deel hoe God daarvan hou om ons te seën en dat ek opgewonde was toe God my gebiede wys waar ek ander kon seën! So toe vat sy dit en het verstaan waar my Bron is, en waar hare ook kon wees. Daar is so baie wat nodig het om bewyse te sien om in staat te wees om die goedheid van die Here te verstaan, maar hoe sal hulle weet as hulle dit nie eerstehands in ons lewens kan sien nie?
In the midst of all this giving, I had a situation come up that I had to go to God for understanding. I actually went to Him to repent, since I thought I had missed an opportunity to give. A woman came up to me and wanted my business card, but I hesitated and I asked her why she wanted it. She told me that she wanted to get to know me and to call me sometimes just to talk. I told her that I am so busy with my five children (and my niece) and that when I am home (and not traveling), I have very little time for any social life. And as a matter of fact, I had to cancel an appointment with a dear friend because I was home-schooling my youngest three in the morning. Thankfully, I was interrupted by another friend who came up to say hi so the woman simply walked away.
Ten midde van al hierdie gee, het ek ‘n situasie gehad wat opgekom het waarmee ek na God toe moes gaan vir verstandhouding. Ek het eintlik na Hom toe gegaan om te bieg, aangesien ek gedink het dat ek ‘n geleentheid wat ek gehad het om te gee gemis het. ‘n Vrou het opgekom na my toe en wou my besigheids kaartjie gehad het, maar ek het gehuiwer en haar gevra waarvoor sy dit wou gehad het. Sy het gesê dat sy my wou leer ken en my somtyds wou skakel net om te praat. Ek het vir haar gesê dat ek so besig was met my vyf kinders ( en my broerskind) en dat wanneer ek by die huis is (en nie reis nie), het ek baie min tyd vir ‘n sosiale lewe. Om die waarheid te sê, ek moes ‘n afspraak kanselleer met ‘n liewe vriendin omdat ek besig was om my jongste kind in die oggend te tuisskool. Dankbaar, was ek onderbreek deur ‘n ander vriendin wie na my toe gekom het om hallo te sê so die vrou het eenvoudig weggeloop.
When I spoke to the Lord about it, repenting, He told me that He had led me to resist this woman’s efforts because it was the enemy who comes to steal from us and wear out His children. He told me that though He puts out opportunities for us to give, the enemy is also right there to steal or to simply wear us out. When I asked Him how we know when it is Him and not the enemy, He said that when we stay close to Him, we will instinctively, in our spirits, discern His leading and will naturally not fall prey to it.
Toe ek met die Here gepraat het, en gebieg het, het Hy vir my gesê dat Hy my gelei het om die vrou se pogings teen te staan omdat dit die vyand was wat na ons toe kom om van ons te steel en Sy kinders uit te mergel. Hy het vir my gesê dat alhoewel Hy geleenthede vir ons gee om te gee, is die vyand ook daar om te steel en ons eenvoudig uit te mergel. Toe ek gevra het hoe weet ons dit is Hy en nie die vyand nie, het Hy gesê dat wanneer ons naby aan Hom bly, sal ons instinkmatig, in ons gees, sy leiding onderskei en sal natuurgewys nie prooi val daarvoor nie.
Another way we fall prey is when we begin to become prideful about our giving. Our testimonies no longer praise God, but praise us (and how generous and giving we are)! This will ultimately be the net for us to fall into or a podium for us to fall off of. So be very careful when you share your testimony. Make sure that it is the Lord you are lifting up and not your greatness.
Nog ‘n manier wat ons prooi val is wanneer ons begin om trots oor ons gee te word. Ons getuienisse prys dan nie meer vir God nie, maar prys ons (en hoe vrygewig en meegewend ons is)! Dit sal uitermatig die net vir ons wees om in te val of ‘n podium vir ons om van af te val. So wees baie versigtig wanneer jy jou getuienis deel. Maak seker dat dit die Here is wat jy oplig en nie jou grootheid nie.
Also, look for opportunities to give, but don’t just run around giving. God needs to present opportunities to you and open the door for it to bring His increase. There are times when we might see a need, but God doesn’t want us to fill it. It might be that the need is for someone else to fill or it may be that the lack is what God is using to get the other person to cry out to Him. And as God told me, staying close to Him will give us the greatest protection of doing it just right!
Ook, kyk vir geleenthede om te gee, maar moet nie net rond hardloop en gee nie. God moet geleenthede voorstel vir jou en die deur oop maak vir dit om te vermeerder. Daar is tye wanneer ons ‘n behoefte mag sien, maar God nie wil hê ons moet dit vul nie. Dit mag wees dat die behoefte vir iemand anders is om te vul of dit mag wees dat dit die tekort is wat God gebruik om die ander persoon te kry om uit te roep na Hom toe. En soos wat God vir my gesê het, naby aan Hom te bly sal ons die grootste beskerming gee om dit net reg te doen!
So once again, take some time to fall in love with your Lover today and this week. Tell Him that He is all you want and all that you need. Sing your favorite love song to Him and remind yourself of all the ways that He has blessed you. No one needs to live a life of lack when our God, and our Husband, is the ultimate Source for everything that never runs dry!
So weer eens, neem tyd om vandag op jou Minnaar verlief te raak en hierdie week. Sê vir Hom dat Hy alles is wat jy wil hê en wat jy nodig het. Sing jou gunsteling liedjie vir Hom en herinner jouself aan al die maniere wat Hy jou geseën het. Niemand het nodig om ‘n lewe van tekort te lewe nie wanneer ons God, en ons Man, die primêre Bron is van alles wat nooit opdroog nie!