“O LORD, we have waited for You eagerly;

Your name, even Your memory,

is the desire of our souls.”

—Isaiah 26:8

 

“Ook in die weg van u oordele het ons U verwag, o Here!

Tot u Naam en tot u gedenknaam gaan

die begeerte van ons siel uit.”

—Jesaja 26:8

 

Have you ever waited for God to show up, but when He did you refused the package? You may not have done it intentionally, but what I have recently noticed is that when our miracle comes by way of the wrong person or arrives in the midst of the wrong circumstance, we refuse the miracle and unknowingly settle for less. We simply want to choose the “blessings” of our own making, the things we believe we have earned. How horribly sad.

Het jy al ooit vir God gewag om te verskyn, maar toe Hy het het jy die pakket geweier? Jy mag dit nie doelbewus gedoen het nie, maar wat ek onlangs agter gekom het is dat wanneer ons wonderwerk deur die verkeerde persoon kom of in die verkeerde omstandighede arriveer, weier ons die wonderwerk en is onbewustelike met minder tevrede. Ons wil eenvoudig die seëninge kies wat ons self geskep het wat ons glo ons verdien. Hoe vreeslik hartseer.

To help you fully understand what I mean, below are two heartbreaking stories in the Bible where, without knowing it, the recipient settled for less. Both were part of Elisha’s amazing ministry. The first involves the king of Israel and the second, the widow and the oil (a story you may already know).

Om jou te help om ten volle te verstaan wat ek bedoel, onder is twee hartverskeurende stories in die Bybel waar, sonder dat hulle dit weet, die ontvanger met minder tevrede was. Abei was deel van Elisa se ongelooflike bediening. Die eerste betrek die koning van Israel en die tweede, die weduwee en die olie (‘n storie wat jy alreeds mag ken).  

“When Elisha became sick with the illness of which he was to die, Joash the king of Israel came down to him and wept over him and said, ‘My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!’

“Elisa het ernstig siek geword en op sterwe gelĂȘ. Koning Joas van Israel het hom gaan besoek en het oor hom gehuil en gesĂȘ: “My vader, my vader, u was vir Israel die strydwa met sy ruiters!”

“Elisha said to him, ‘Take a bow and arrows.’ So he took a bow and arrows. Then he said to the king of Israel, ‘Put your hand on the bow.’ And he put his hand on it, then Elisha laid his hands on the king's hands.

Elisa sĂȘ toe vir hom: “Vat jou pyl en boog.” Die koning van Israel het dit gedoen, en toe sĂȘ Elisa vir hom: “Sit jou hand op die boog.” Die koning het sy hand op die boog gesit. Elisa het toe sy eie hande op die hande van die koning gesit

“He said, ‘Open the window toward the east,’ and he opened it. Then Elisha said, ‘Shoot!’ And he shot. And he said, “The LORD'S arrow of victory, even the arrow of victory over Aram; for you will defeat the Arameans at Aphek until you have destroyed them.’

en gesĂȘ: “Maak die venster aan die oostekant oop.” Die koning het dit oopgemaak, en Elisa het beveel: “Skiet!” Toe skiet die koning, en Elisa sĂȘ: “'n Pyl van die HERE se oorwinning, 'n pyl van oorwinning oor Aram! Jy sal Aram verpletterend verslaan in Afek.”

“Then he said, ‘Take the arrows,’ and he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, ‘Strike the ground,’ and he struck it three times and stopped.

Verder sĂȘ Elisa: “Vat nou die pyle.” Die koning het hulle gevat, en Elisa sĂȘ vir hom: “Slaan teen die grond.” Die koning het drie maal geslaan en opgehou.

“So the man of God was angry with him and said, ‘You should have struck five or six times, then you would have struck Aram until you would have destroyed it. But now you shall strike Aram only three times’” (2 Kings 13:14–19). Next is the widow


Die man van God het baie kwaad geword vir die koning en gesĂȘ: “Jy moes vyf of ses keer geslaan het, dan sou jy Aram heeltemal verslaan het, maar nou sal jy Aram net drie keer verslaan.”’ (2 Konings 13:14-19). Volgende is die weduwee...

“Now a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, ‘Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD; and the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.’

“'n Vrou van 'n profeet het haar nood by Elisa kom kla: “My man is dood. U weet self dat hy die HERE gedien het. Nou het die skuldeiser gekom om my twee seuns te vat en hulle sy slawe te maak.”

“Elisha said to her, ‘What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?’ And she said, ‘Your maidservant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.’

Elisa het vir haar gesĂȘ: “Ek sal jou help. SĂȘ vir my: wat het jy in jou huis?” Sy het geantwoord: “Ek het niks in die huis nie behalwe 'n erdekannetjie olie.”

“Then he said, ‘Go, borrow vessels at large for yourself from all your neighbors, even empty vessels; do not get a few. And you shall go in and shut the door behind you and your sons, and pour out into all these vessels, and you shall set aside what is full.’

Hy het toe gesĂȘ: “Gaan leen nou by al jou bure leĂ« kruike, en sorg dat jy nie te min leen nie. Dan gaan jy in jou huis in, maak die deur agter jou en jou seuns toe, en gooi elkeen van hierdie kruike vol olie. Soos elkeen vol word, moet jy hom wegpak.”

“So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons; they were bringing the vessels to her and she poured. When the vessels were full, she said to her son, ‘Bring me another vessel.’ And he said to her, ‘There is not one vessel more.’ And the oil stopped.

Sy is van hom af weg. Sy het die deur agter haar en haar seuns toegemaak. Soos hulle die kruike na haar toe aangedra het, het sy hulle volgemaak. Toe die kruike vol was, sĂȘ sy vir een van haar seuns: “Bring vir my nog 'n kruik.” Maar hy het gesĂȘ: “Daar is nie meer 'n kruik oor nie.” Toe het daar nie meer olie uit die kannetjie gekom nie.

“Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, ‘Go, sell the oil and pay your debt, and you and your sons can live on the rest’” (2 Kings 4:1-10).

Sy het by die man van God aangekom en dit vir hom vertel. Hy het gesĂȘ: “Gaan verkoop die olie en betaal jou skuld. Jy en jou seuns kan dan leef van wat oorbly.”’ (2 Konings 4:1-10).

These are the stories that came to mind just recently when “settling for less” happened to my precious daughter. It caught my attention to this all-important principle when we foolishly and often ignorantly choose to settle for less.

Hierdie is die stories wat net onlangs by my opgeval het wanneer jy “met minder tevrede is” dit het met my kosbare dogter gebeur. Dit het my aandag getrek na hierdie alles-belangrike beginsel wanneer ons dwaas en dikwels onkundg kies om met minder tevrede te wees.

For several months my daughter has put away every penny of her income with the desire to buy herself a car. She apologizes almost every morning for me having to drive her for work, even though I tell her each time that I am already up, and that I thoroughly enjoy the time I have alone with her. Still, she apologizes.

Vir verskeie maande het my dogter elke sent van haar inkomste weg gebĂȘre met die begeerte om vir haarself ‘n motor te koop. Sy vra omtrent elke ogend om verskoning dat ek haar werk toe moet neem, alhoewel ek elke keer vir haar sĂȘ dat ek alreeds op is, en dat ek die tyd wat ek alleen saam haar spandeer vreeslik geniet, Tog, vra sy om verskoning.

When she reached her goal of how much she’d hoped to put down on a car, she began asking guys she knew to help her find a good car. When she told me, the first thing I thought of was how would her brothers feel when they heard that she asked a guy friend rather than asking them? Then I thought of how our Husband feels when we ask one of our friends rather than asking our best Friend who never will leave us or forsake us.

Toe sy haar doelwit bereik het van hoeveel sy gehoop het om as ‘n deposito vir ‘n motor neer te sit, het sy begin om vir ouens wat sy ken te vra om haar te help om ‘n nuwe motor te vind. Toe sy vir my sĂȘ, was die eerste ding waaraan ek gedink het, hoe sou haar broers voel wanneer hulle hoor dat sy ‘n mans vriend gevra het eerder as hulle? Toe het ek gedink oor hoe ons Man voel wanneer ons enige een van ons vriende vra eerder as ons beste Vriend wie ons nooit sal verlaat en nooit in die steek laat nie. 

The principle of seeking others rather than our Husband took on an entirely new level when week after week my daughter was sad and disappointed because her dad was not helping her buy that perfect car she found and also because she wanted him to co-sign for the loan. I sat listening each time she told me until the day she finally asked me what to do. That’s when I could finally share my heart with her, explaining how often we look to others rather than looking to her true Father for every need she has.

Die beginsel om ander eerder as ons Man na te soek het ‘n hele nuwe vlak bereik toe my dogter week na week hartseer en teleurgesteld was omdat haar pa haar nie gehelp het om daardie perfekte motor wat sy gevind het te koop nie en ook omdat sy wou gehad het dat hy moes mede-teken vir die lening. Ek het elke keer gesit en luister totdat sy finaal vir my gevra het wat om te doen. Dit is toe ek uiteindelik my hart kon deel, en verduidelik hoe dikwels ons na ander kyk eerder as om na haar ware Vader te kyk vir elke behoefte wat sy het.  

It took some time but I finally convinced my daughter to look to her Father for her car. As soon as she did, it took less than two hours to discover that our neighbor found all their gorgeous cars at an auction, and that the following week our neighbors said they could get her one at a dealer’s price. Then the Lord led me to, once again, offer to co-sign for her. Very soon the car, which was beyond her dreams, would be hers!

Dit het tyd geneem maar ek het haar uiteindelik oorreed om na haar Vader te kyk vir haar motor. Toe sy dit gedoen het, het dit minder as twee ure geneem om te ontdek dat ons buurman al hulle pragtige motors by ‘n veilig gevind het, en dat hulle gesĂȘ het dat hulle die volgende week vir haar een kon kry teen ‘n handelaar se prys. Toe het die Here my gelei om, weereens, te offer om te mede-teken vir haar. Baie gou sou die motor, wat bo haar drome was, hare wees! 

Yet somewhere in the midst of waiting, she reverted back. Isn’t that just like all of us? We are so accustomed to the ways of relying on and trusting others, and ourselves, that we are caught in the habit. That’s why He lovingly surrounds us with fellow believers who will encourage us and remind us to trust Him alone, which happened with my daughter. So, again, very soon, she was relying on her Father and speaking positively about what He was about to do.

Tog ĂȘrens ten midde van die gewag, het sy teruggegaan. Is sy nie net soos ons almal nie? Ons is so gewoond daaraan om op ander, en onsself  staat te maak en te vertrou, dat ons in die gewoonte vasgevang is. Dit is waarom Hy ons so liefdevol omring met mede gelowiges wie ons sal aanmoedig en herinner om op Hom alleen te vertrou, wat met my dogter gebeur het. So, weer, baie gou, het sy op haar Vader staat gemaak en positief gepraat oor wat Hy op die punt gestaan het om te doen.   

That’s when something unexpected happened. While filling out the loan papers something caught my eye, something was written at the top, when, in an instant, this verse came to mind: “I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging bread” (Psalm 37:25). All I could imagine was what the Psalmist would do if he saw me today. No, I was not begging for “bread” but here I was begging a credit union for a loan. My heart grieved when I thought, again, how my Husband was feeling by going to someone other than Him.

Dit is teo wat iets onverwags gebeur het. Terwyl ek besig was om die lening papiere in te vul het iets my oog gevang, iets wat bo geskryf was, toe onmiddellik, het hierdie vers in my gedagtes opgekom; “Ek was jonk en het oud geword, maar nooit het ek ‘n regverdige verlate gesien of dat sy nageslag brood soek nie” (Psalms 37:25). Al wat ek my kon verbeel was wat die Psalmis sou doen as hy my vandag kon sien. Nee, ek het nie vir “brood” gesoek nie maar hier was ek besig om by ‘n krediet unie te soek vir ‘n lening. My hart was gegrief toe ek, weer, gedink het hoe my Man moes voel deur na iemand anders te gaan as Hom.

Had I asked my Husband for the money to buy a car for our daughter? No, instead I’d gone off to seek help from someone else! So how could I look at anyone else, like my daughter for instance, when I was doing the very same thing, only more severely, since I’m His bride, traveling along my journey with my Love.

Het ek vir my Man gevra vir die geld om ‘n motor vir ons dogter te koop? Nee, in plaas daarvan het ek af gegaan om hulp van iemand anders af te kry! Soe hoe kon ek vir enigiemand anders kyk, soos my dogter byvoorbeeld, as ek presies dieselfde ding gedoen het, net erger, aangesien ek Sy bruid is, en langs my reistog saam my Liefde reis.  

Yet, rather than feeling like I’d messed up, believing the lie, which comes with guilt, that this meant that I would have to forgo the blessing. Instead, I have come to understand more fully His incredible forgiving love and His immeasurable grace that sets us free from worry, doubt and fear. “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear
” (1 John 4:18). Oh, His love!!

Tog, eerder as om te voel asof ek opgemors het, en ‘n leun te glo, wat uit skuldgevoelens kom, en  dan sou beteken dat ek van die seĂ«n moes laat gaan het. In plaas daarvan, het ek meer volkome Sy ongelooflike vergewensgesinde liefde en Sy onmeetbare genade wat ons vry stel van bekommernis, twyfel en vrees verstaan. “Waar liefde is, is daar geen vrees nie, maar volmaakte liefde verdryf vrees
” (1 Johannes 4:18). O, Sy liefde!!

Because even when we fail, as I knew I had, He is right there next to us, ready and excited to bless us! Isn’t that what this verse means? “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

Omdat selfs wanneer ons misluk, soos ek weet ek gedoen het, is Hy reg daar langs ons, gereed en opgewonde om ons te seĂ«n! Is dit nie wat hierdie vers beteken nie? “Ons weet dat God alles ten goede laat meewerk vir diĂ© wat Hom liefhet, diĂ© wat volgens sy besluit geroep is” (Romeine 8:28).

So rather than worry, or fret, I turned my face up to Him, tearfully trusting to find His blessing in this mistake and shortcoming of mine. Immediately and amazingly—I discovered the most incredible blessing I could never have imagined!

So eerder as om bekommerd te wees of om jou te knies, het ek my gesig na Hom toe gedraai, tranerig vertrou om Sy seĂ«n in hierdie fout en tekortkoming van my te sien en ontsagwekkend—het ek die mees ongelooflikste seĂ«n wat ek my ooit kon verbeel ontdek. 

The discovery began with a tremendous trial as most blessings begin. It was just a little over a year ago when I got a call that the refinancing on my house came to a sudden halt with some shocking news. It was during the divorce process, when, unbeknownst to me, my ex-husband’s attorney had placed a huge financial judgment against me in order for his client, my ex, to be assured that he would get his portion of the equity in our home.

Die ontdekking het gekom met ‘n geweldige beproewing soos wat meeste seĂ«ninge begin. Dit was net ‘n biejie meer as ‘n jaar gelede toe ek ‘n oproep kry dat die herfinansiering van my huis tot ‘n skeilike stilstand gekom het met skokkende nuus. Dit was gedurende die egskeidings proses, toe, onbekend aan my, het my eks-man se prokureur ‘n groot finansiĂ«le vonnis teen my gebring sodat sy klient, my eks, verseker kon wees dat hy sy deel van die aandeel in ons huis kon kry. 

It wasn’t until just a few weeks ago that I understood the second stipulation of this—my ex-husband was sure that I would lose my home. He had witnessed my “spiritual weirdness” as he referred to it since I have been a zealot for a very long time. This led to him taking drastic measures.

Dit was nie tot net ‘n paar weke gelde dat ek die tweede stipulasie van dit verstaan het nie—my eks-man was seker dat ek my huis sou verloor. Hy het getuig van my “spirituele vreemdheid” soos  hy daarna verwys het aangesien ek vir ‘n baie lang tyd ‘n seloot was. Dit het hom daartoe gelei om drastiese stappe te neem.

So, does this mean that you and I are destined to experience “lack” due to the actions of others? Actually the opposite will happen as long as we are trusting Him. And our blessings will be due to that evil (that we must refuse to resist) with will catapult us to greatness. “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). Not resisting evil, will also gain the attention of others. He does this to give us a testimony to share with others— in order for the hurting and suffering souls to experience His love!!

So, beteken dit dat ek en jy bestem is om “tekort” te ervaar as gevolg van die aksies van ander? Eintlik sal die teenoorgestede gebeur solank as wat ons op Hom vertrou. En ons seĂ«ninge sal wees as gevolg van daardie kwaadwillige (wat ons moet weier om teen te staan) was ons na grootheid toe sal katapult. “Maar Ek sĂȘ 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). Om nie die kwaadwillige teen te staan nie, sal ook die aandag van ander aantrek. Hy doen dit om vir ons ‘n getuienis te gee om met ander te deel—sodat die kwetsende en lydende siele Sy liefde kan ervaar!!

The day I found out that my credit was ruined (a judgment is like a bankruptcy only it lasts for 10 years not 7), I blurted out something, while laughing, that caught my attention when I said it. I said,“Well, that must mean that I won’t need credit—I’ll be buying everything for cash!” In my mind, I envisioned buying larger items, such as cars or even houses for cash. Though it seemed far beyond my faith, I couldn’t help but hold this thought up and compare it with God’s ability, which simply meant—nothing, not one thing, is impossible with God!

Die dag wat ek uitgevind het dat my krediet geruĂŻneer is (‘n vonnis is soos bankrotskap maar dit hou vir 10 jaar nie 7 nie), ek het iets uigeblaker, terwyl ek gelag het, wat my aandag getrek het toe ek dit gesĂȘ het. Ek het gesĂȘ, “Wel dit beteken dat ek nie krediet nodig het nie—ek sal alles kontant koop!” In my gedagtes het ek gesien hoe ek groter items kontant aankoop, soos motors of selfs huise. Alhoewel dit ver bo my geloof gelyk het, kon ek dit nie verhelp om hierdie gedagte op te hou en met God se vermoĂ« te vergelyk nie, wat eenvoudig beteken het —niks, nie een ding, is onmoontlik met God nie!

The day the verse about “begging bread” jumped into view, I also caught a glimpse of what my Husband might do next. And, this same vision flew across my mind not just once, but it happened twice more that same day. The next morning the same thing happened, until I followed that vision and went into my online bank account.

Die dag wat die vers “soek vir brood’ opgespring het in my visie, het ek ook ‘n kykie gevang van wat my Man volgende mag doen. En, dieselfde visie het deur my gedagtes gegaan nie een keer nie, maar dit het meer as twee keer dieselfde dag gebeur. Die volgende oggend het dieselfde ding gebeur, totdat ek die visie gevolg het en in my aanlyn bank rekening ingegaan het.

What’s crazy is that for week’s money had been “piling up” in my account and each time I saw it, I kept asking my Husband what He wanted me to do with it. Because I still have mounds of debt, I instinctively thought, pay down the debt. But each time I asked He told me, no, that debt is His, that He (like my sins) had been paid for. So, since all my bills were being paid on time, nothing was late, I again asked Him what the accumulated cash was for? That day my eyes were open when He said, “Look, there’s more than enough to pay cash for our daughter’s car”!!

Wat gek is is dat vir weke het geld in my rekening “opgehoop” en elke keer wat ek dit gesien het, het ek my Man gevra wat Hy wou gehad het ek daarmee moes doen. Omdat ek nog steeds hope skuld het, ek het instinktief gedink, betaal die skuld af. Maar elke keer wat ek gevra het het Hy vir my gesĂȘ, nee, daardie skuld is Syne, dat Hy (soos my sonde) daarvoor betaal het. So, aangesien al my skuld betyds betaal was, was niks laat nie, ek het Hom weer gevra waarvoor die opgehoopte kontant was? Daardie dag was my oĂ« oop toe Hy gesĂȘ het, “ Kyk, daar is meer as genoeg om konant vir jou dogter se motor te betaal”!!

The instant I saw it, my daughter walked into the room, almost on cue. When I asked her to sit down, and fully explained the plan, she sat there stunned. Nevertheless, she quickly explained how much she could pay me back each month, which allowed me to explain to her that just as in salvation, God never asks us to pay Him back. The truth is, we can’t, and even if we could, He doesn’t want our money or our works or anything but our love for Him. He wants us to appreciate and experience His goodness, His love! That morning I wanted my daughter to experience firsthand the goodness, awesomeness, and faithfulness of the One who I had fallen madly and passionately in love with again and again and again.

Die oomblik wat ek dit gesien het, het my dogter, op amper die korrekte oomblik, in die kamer ingeloop. Toe ek haar gevra het om te sit, en die plan ten volle te verduidelik het, het sy verstom daar gesit. Nietemin sy het gou verduidelik hoeveel sy my elke maand kon terug betaal, wat my toegelaat het om vir haar te verduidelik dat net soos met redding, God ons nooit vra om Hom terug te betaal nie. Die waarheid is ons kan nie, en selfs al kon ons, Hy wil nie ons geld of ons werke of enigiets behalwe ons liefde vir Hom hĂȘ nie. Hy wil hĂȘ ons moet Sy goedheid, Sy liefde ervaar en waardeer! Daardie oggend wou ek gehad het my dogter moes eerstehands die goedheid, ongelooflikheid, en getrouheid van die Een op wie ek dol en  hartstogtelik weer en weer en weer verlief geraak het ervaar.  

Yet, before we could move forward, with a few days before the auction, I could bask in His love—knowing that I would be able to write out a check, me, for the amount to purchase our daughter a car for cash. No loans, no need to borrow any more, not ever. I was so excited that I found myself sharing this with each of my children, and a few of my friends I ran into. By the way, do you remember my telling you that you should be careful never to share what He shows you to do until after you do it, because the enemy will try to stop it from happening? Well, with all my heart I wish I had remembered. Not for my sake, but for my daughter’s.

Tog, voordat ons vooruit kon beweeg, met ‘n paar dae voor die veiling, kon ek in Sy liefde bak—wetend dat ek in staat was om ‘n tjek, ek, vir die bedrag om vir ons dogter ‘n motor kontant aan te koop uit te skryf. Geen lenings, geen rede om te leen, nie ooit ne. Ek was so opgewonde dat ek myself gevind het dit met elkeen van ons kinders, en ‘n paar vriende wat ek gesien het  deel. Terloops, kan jy onthou dat ek vir jou gesĂȘ het dat jy versigtig moet wees om nooit te deel wat Hy jou wys tot na jy dit gedoen het nie, omdat die vyand sal probeer om te keer dat dit gebeur? Wel, met my hele hart het ek gewens dat ek dit onthou het. Nie om my onthalwe nie, maar vir my dogter sin. 

By the time the auction came around, my daughter had refused to take my money. One of her siblings had convinced her that I “couldn’t afford it,” and she had no right take advantage of me and that she should instead go to her dad. By the time we spoke, my daughter had already turned back to looking to her dad for him to co-sign on a loan. She decided to settle for less. 

Teen die tyd wat die veilig omgekom het, het my dogter geweier om my geld te vat. Een van haar broers/susters het haar oorreed dat ek “dit nie kon bekostig nie,” en dat sy geen reg het om my uit te buit nie en dat sy eerder na haar pa toe moes gaan. Teen die tyd wat ons gepraat het, het my dogter alreeds teruggedraai deur na haar pa te kyk vir hom om vir ‘n lening te mede-teken. Sy het besluit om met minder tevrede te wees.

I knew to try to convince her would be wrong, I know her well enough to know that she would resist my efforts besides, as a mother, we are to live our faith in love and share when we are asked—not push our beliefs on anyone.

Ek het geweet dat om haar te probeer oortuig verkeerd sou wees, ek het haar goed genoeg geken om te weet dat sy my pogings sou teenstaan buitendien, as ‘n moeder, moet ons ons geloof in liefde lewe en deel wanneer ons gevra word—en nie ons geloof op enigiemand afdwing nie.

When my daughter, once again, began pursuing, hoping and praying for her dad to co-sign and get her a car, God gave her what she asked for. She was excited when she told me that his new wife brought up the subject, and excited when they, finally, took her out to find her a car. Sadly, instead of finding her dream car, her father and wife told her, it wasn’t sensible enough. In addition, they lingered long into the night telling everyone that was there that night that if she bought her dream car, she wouldn’t be able to afford new tires if she needed them, she couldn’t afford the repairs if something went wrong, and on and on they went.

Toe my dogter, weereens, begin agternasit, en te hoop en bid vir haar pa om te mede-teken en haar motor te kry, het God vir haar gegee waarvoor sy gevra het. Sy was opgewonde toe sy vir my vertel dat sy nuwe vrou die onderwerp opgehaal het, en opgewonde toe hulle, haar uiteindelik, uitgeneem het om ‘n motor te vind. Hartseer, in plaas daarvan dat hulle haar droom motor gevind het, het haar pa en sy vrou vir haar gesĂȘ dat dit nie verstandg genoeg was nie. Boonop, het hulle te lank in die aand getalm en vir almal wat daar was daardie aand vertel dat as sy haar droom motor sou koop, sy nie nuwe bande sou kon bekostig a sy hulle nodig gehad het nie, dat sy nie die herstelwerk sou kon bekostig as iets sou verkeerd loop nie, en aan en aan het hulle gegaan.

The night this conversation took place, my daughter was not there. I alone listened as her dad and stepmom told everyone about the car that she needed was the one “they” got for her, “It’s a sensible car, the make, and model that her grandmother(drove). Even though it was priced the same as the ‘dream’ car she wanted (then both laughed), who did she think she was to even want a car like that?!?” they went onto say. My heart grieved.

Die aand wat die gesprek plaas gevind het, was my dogter nie daar nie. Ek alleen het geluister soos wat haar pa en haar stiefma almal vertel het dat die motor wat sy nodig gehad het die een was wat hulle vir haar gekry het, “Dit is ‘n verstandige motor, die maak, en model wat haar ouma (bestuur het). Alhoewel dit dieselfde prys as die ‘droom’ motor was wat sy wou gehad het (toe lag albei), wie het sy gedink was sy om selfs te dink om ‘n motor soos dit te wil hĂȘ?!?” het hulle aangegaan om te sĂȘ. My hart was gegrief.

There have been so many horrendous trials with this car that seemed to happen almost everyday—yet my daughter is determined to prove to me it was the car that she was supposed to get.

Daar was so baie aaklige beproewings met hierdie motor wat gelyk het asof dit amper elke dag gebeur het—tog is my dogter vasbeslote om aan my te bewys dat dit die motor was wat sy veronderstel was om te kry.

Yet I know in my heart how her Father’s blessings are designed to grab the attention of everyone—especially us. I know how my heart sings each time I get in and drive my car, the car my Husband gave me. I feel so loved and yes, sometimes even undeserved, because what I drive is a miracle of the most amazing kind. I wanted a blessing like that for my daughter too, but sadly, she settled for less. 

Tog weet ek in my hart hoe haar Vader se seĂ«ninge ontwerp is om die aandag van almal—spesiaal ons aan te gryp. Ek weet my hart sing elke keer wat ek in my motor klim en bestuur, die motor wat my Man my gegee het. Ek voel so bemin en ja, somtyds selfs onverdiend, omdat wat ek bestuur is ‘n wonderwerk van die mees ongelooflikste soort. Ek wou ook so ‘n seĂ«n vir my dogter gehad het, maar hartseer, was sy met minder tevrede.

My Tenth of Many Financial Testimonies
My Tiende van Baie Finansiële Getuienisse

“By Your Words”
“Deur Jou Woorde”

At the same time, the above was happening to my daughter, her brother was going through a similar situation of settling for less, rather than following the blessing his Father had for him.

Op dieselfde tyd, wat die bogenoemde met my dogter gebeur het, het haar broer deur ‘n eenderse situasie gegaan om met minder tevrede te wees, eerder as om die seĂ«n wat die Vader vir hom gehad het te volg.

Because my son has his own business, there are often lean times, times when he looked as if he would come up short, but each time, of course (since he is a giver of the most amazing kind) he always paid his bills and had enough for his needs.

Omdat my seun sy eie besigheid gehad het, is daar dikwels maer tye, tye toe dit gelyk het asof hy tekort gaan skiet, maar elke keer, natuurlik (aangesien hy ‘n gewer van die mees ongelooflike soort is) hy het altyd sy rekeninge betaal en genoeg gehad vir sy behoeftes.

Then one morning he told me that he was going to go out and get a part-time job just so he never needed to worry about paying his bills. He wanted “just enough” to make his car payment, insurance, gas, etc., he said. Within a week he had an amazing job offer to waiter where he would get great tips. Yet, night after night he came home exhausted and disappointed with the small number of tips he was making.

Toe een oggend het hy vir my gesĂȘ dat hy vir ‘n deeltydse werk gaan soek sodat hy homself nooit hoef te bekommer om vir sy rekeninge te betaal nie. Hy het gesĂȘ dat hy “net genoeg” wou gehad het om sy motor paaiement, brandstof, ens te betaal. Binne ‘n week het hy ‘n ongelooflike werksaanbod gehad om ‘n bediener te wees waar hy groot fooitjies sou maak. Tog, aand na aand het hy uitgeput en teleurgesteld by die huis gekom met die klein hoeveelheid fooitjies wat hy gemaak het.

Since I was the one who saw the sign for this job and encouraged him to take it, I felt responsible and spoke to my Husband about it. That’s when He lovingly replayed what my son had said, he said he wanted to make “just enough” to pay his bills, and God had answered his prayers accordingly.”

Aangesien ek die een was wat die advertensie vir hierdie werk gesien het en hom aangemoedig het om dit te vat, het ek verantwoordelik gevoel en met my Man daaroor gepraat. Dit is toe wat Hy liefdevol wat my seun gesĂȘ het oorgespeel het, hy het gesĂȘ dat hy “net genoeg  wou maak om sy rekeninge te betaal, en God het sy gebede dienooreenkomstig beantwoord.

When I realized what had happened, I share this revelation with my son. At first, I think he was thinking I was being a bit too spiritually weird, but he couldn’t shake the thought that I could actually be right. It didn’t take too many long days at his business, then leaving to work nights for him to change his plea to his Father— asking Him to send him more business, and to bless him with abundance!

Toe ek besef wat gebeur het, ek deel hierdie openbaring met my seun. In die begin het ek gedink dat hy gedink het dat ek te geestelik vreemd was, maar hy kon nie die gedagte afskud dat ek eintlik reg kon wees nie. Dit het nie te veel baie lang dae by sy besigheid geneem, en dan om aande te werk vir hom om sy pleidooi aan sy Vader te verander nie—en Hom te vra om vir hom meer besigheid te stuur, en om hom in oorvloed te seĂ«n!

His Father chose to bless him while we were having breakfast with his dad— he got the call that left him speechless. A guy he’d met only once had taken notice of him for his outstanding work, explaining that he was pulling a team together and wanted him for the position. Then he said what the pay rate would be—my son could not believe it—the pay was what he would make if he worked 10 days as a waiter with great tips! In addition, the guy said this would not be a one-time deal, this additional business would be ongoing (however, the thief almost stole it from him; the details will be in the next chapter).

Sy Vader het gekies om hom te seĂ«n terwyl ons ontbyt saam sy pa gehad het—hy het die oproep gekry wat hom sprakeloos gelos het. ‘n Ou wat hy net een keer ontmoet het het hom opgemerk vir sy uitstaande werk, en verduidelik dat hy ’n span wou saambring en hom vir die posisie wou gehad het. Toe sĂȘ hy vir hom wat die betaling skaal sou wees— kon my seun dit nie glo nie—die betaling was wat hy sou maak as hy 10 dae as ‘n bediener gewerk het met groot fooitjies! Boonop, het die ou gesĂȘ dit sou nie net ‘n een-keer transaksie wees nie, die addisionele besigheid sou voortdurend wees (alhoewel, die dief dit amper by hom gesteel het; die besonderhede sal in die volgende hoofstuk wees). 

My son immediately let go of being a waiter and trying to earn just enough. And the more he looks to his Father the more the blessings are flowing into his life. More and more calls are coming into his business—more than he said he ever believed he would ever have! It has even spilled over to his brother who is getting married and was hoping for some side jobs to earn more money!

My seun het onmiddellik laat gaan om ‘n bediener te wees en te probeer om net genoeg te verdien. En hoe meer hy na sy Vader kyk hoe meer vloei die seĂ«ninge in sy lewe. Meer en meer oproepe kom in sy besigheid in—meer as wat hy ooit geglo het hy sou hĂȘ! Dit het selfs oorgespoel na sy broer toe wie gaan trou en gehoop het vir sywerkies om meer geld te verdien!

Following the same principle, looking to his Father, my son was also hired for the same project and there are many more projects up ahead for them both. Now, due to what he continues to witness his brother does, he too is trying to bring himself to trust the Lord totally rather than relying on a steady paycheck where he works now and hopes to venture out on his own. To be continued as the blessings unfold


Deur dieselfde beginsel te volg, en na sy Vader te kyk, was my seun ook vir dieselfde projek gehuur en daar is meer projekte vir hulle albei vorentoe. Nou, as gevolg van die getuienis van wat sy broer doen, probeer hy ook om homself te bring om op die Here te vertrou eerder as om te vertrou op ‘n gereelde salaris waar hy nou werk en hoop om op sy eie uit te gaan. Om vervolg te word soos wat die seĂ«ninge ontvou...

Joernaal

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