“So faith comes from hearing,
and hearing by the word of God.”
—Romans 10:17
“Die geloof kom dus deur die prediking wat 'n mens hoor,
en die prediking wat ons hoor, is die verkondiging van Christus."
—Romeine 10:17
This week I purchased three copies of Supernatural Childbirth for three weddings that are taking place this year: my two sons and also a dear friend, who, by the way, is in her mid-thirties. She never believed she would marry, but not only is marrying, but her husband wants children right away! Isn’t that so God?
Hierdie weee het ek drie kopies van Supernatural Childbirth vir drie troues wat hierdie jaar plaasvind gekoop: my twee seuns en ook ‘n liewe vriendin, wie, nie net trou nie, maar haar man wil dadelik kinders hê! Is dit nie net soos God nie?
Yet, as the set of books sat there I couldn’t help but want to share them with my daughters, so that when they see all the women screaming on television shows or in movies they will be able to dispel the fears that birth is both painful and dangerous, since “faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). Instead, as believers, He said we have been set free from curses and sins.
Tog, soos wat die stel boeke daar gesit het kon ek nie help as om hulle met my dogters te deel nie, sodat wanneer hulle al die vrouens sien skree op die televisie vertonings of in die flieks sal hulle in staat wees om die vrees dat geboorte beide pynlik en gevaarlik is verdryf, aangesien “geloof kom deur die prediking en die prediking die verkondiging van Jesus” (Romeine 10:17). Eerder, as gelowiges, het Hy gesê dat ons vrygestel is van vloeke en sondes.
So I began reading from the book to my daughters, but it wasn’t until I had begun interjecting my own faith as we read that I realized God had led me to share this truth about childbirth for the same reason that we taught our children about Creationism—so that they could snicker (rather than agree) when they heard “billions and billions of years ago”—knowing the truth regarding the age of the earth is closer to just 7,000 years.
So ek het uit die boek aan my dogters begin lees, maar dit was nie totdat ek my eie geloof begin tussenvoeg het soos wat ons gelees het dat ek besef het dat God my gelei het om hierdie waarheid oor kindergeboorte vir dieselfde rede wat ons ons kinders oor Kreasionisme geleer het gelei —sodat hulle kon giggel (eerder as om saam te stem) toe hulle gehoor het “biljoene en biljoene jare terug”—wetend dat die waarheid is dat die ouderdom van die aarde naastenby net 7,000 jare is.
In this final chapter, I want to focus on just one thing, Who Said? Who said was the response that the author of Supernatural Childbirth heard from her future husband. Who Said? is something I believe we all should ask ourselves—especially anytime we, or someone else, tries to limit our lives with why we can’t do something or why something can’t be done (like trusting God with our debt).
In hierdie finale hoofstuk, wil ek net op een ding fokus, Wie het gesê? Wie het gesê was die reaksie wat die skrywer van Supernatural Childbirth gehoor het van haar toekomstige man af. Wie het Gesê? is iets wat ek glo ons almal onsself moet vra—spesiaal enige tyd, wat ons, of iemand anders, probeer om ons lewens te beperk met waarom ons nie iets kan doen of waarom iets nie gedoen kan word nie (soos om op God te vertrou met ons skuld).
“Who said?” was the question Jackie Maze’s fiancé asked just after she had told him that she couldn’t have children. Rather than accept this as fact, his response was, “Who said?” And as he went on to say, and the book goes on to say, this question really matters since most of what we say, and what others say, is NOT what God says (about us or our situation). When Jackie and her husband married they chose to believe what GOD said and as a result had four children—along with supernatural, pain-free births!
“Wie het gesê?” was die vraag wat Jackie Maze se verloofde gevra het net na sy vir hom vertel het dat sy nie kinders kan hê nie. Eerder as om dit as ‘n feit te aanvaar, was sy reaksie, “Wie het gesê?” En soos wat hy aangegaan het om te sê, en die boek aangegaan het om te sê, hierdie vraag maak regtig saak aangesien meeste van wat ons sê, en wat ander sê, is NIE wat God sê (oor ons of ons situasie nie). Toe Jackie en haar man getroud is het hulle gekies om te glo wat GOD sê en as ‘n resultaat het hulle vier kinders gehad—saam met bonatuurlike, pynlose geboortes!
So when people say that single moms like me, raising four children alone, means struggles and difficulties that will adversely affect my children’s stability and future. And even though these were dear friends, Christians, who asked, expressing the sentiments with gloom in their voices. Each was surprised that my children always respond gleefully when asked “How IS your family doing?” they answer “Great!” with big smiles.
So wanneer mense sê dat enkel ma’s soos ek, wat vier kinders alleen grootmaak, beteken gesukkel en moeilikhede wat my kinders se stabiliteit en toekoms nadelig gaan affekteer. En al was hierdie liewe vriende, wat gevra het, Christene en die sentimente met somberheid in hulle stemme uitgedruk het. Was elkeen verras dat my kinders altyd vreugdevol sou reageer wanneer hulle gevra word “Hoe gaan dit met jou familie?” antwoord hulle “Puik” met groot glimlagte.
Most have only heard the rumors, so I can only imagine if they knew the details (like no child support, and having our resource warehouse emptied out and stolen by my ex-husband). Because I’m sure they would be more than just a little surprised—they’d be shocked wondering how we could possibly be doing “Great!” That’s only because, like the world, most Christians believe what they see. And what they typically see are Christians who live in despair and lack just like the world does. They believe, as the world does, that it takes a husband, two incomes, earning or working hard to make it—not simply because of God’s promise that He says He will supply all of our needs when we trust Him to do so.
Meeste het maar net die gerugte gehoor, so ek kan my net voorstel as hulle die besonderhede geken het (soos geen kinder ondersteuning nie, en om ons bron pakhuis leeggemaak en gesteel te hê deur my eks-man). Want ek is seker hulle sal meer as net ‘n bietjie verras wees—hulle sal geskok wees en wonder hoe ons moontlik “Puik!” kon doen. Dit is net omdat, soos die wêreld, glo meeste Christene wat hulle sien. En wat hulle tipies sien is Christene wat in wanhoop en tekort lewe net soos die wêreld doen. Dat dit ‘n man, twee inkomstes, en hard werk of verdien neem om dit te maak— nie eenvoudig as gevolg van God se beloftes dat Hy sê Hy sal in al ons behoeftes voorsien wanneer ons op Hom vertrou om dit te doen.
So let me ask you:
So laat ek jou vra:
Who said you don’t have enough to pay your bills?
Wie het gesê jy het nie genoeg om jou rekeninge te betaal nie?
Who said you can’t afford that new dress, to eat out, to take a vacation?
Wie het gesê jy kan nie daardie nuwe rok, om uit te eet, om met vakansie te gaan, bekostig nie?
Unfortunately, oftentimes it’s we who are the ones making these negative statements never realizing that what we say, therefore, will become our reality.
Ongelukkig, is dit dikwels ons wie die enes is wat hierdie negatiewe verklarings maak en nooit besef wat ons sê nie, daarom, sal dit ons realiteit word.
When it’s someone else who is speaking this way about us, then it’s time to stop discussing our present situation with people, even Christians, who don’t believe God’s Word. Remember, faith comes by hearing, and if you are not speaking, then you’ll be listening and hearing the Word of God spoken about your situation. You will no longer find that His promises and abundance are eluding your life. So often it is when I hear myself say something negative that it pierces my spirit: I almost can feel it take hold of my heart.
Wanneer dit iemand anders is wat so met ons praat, dan is dit tyd om op te hou om ons huidige sittuasie met mense te bespreek, selfs Christene, wie nie in God se Woord glo nie. Onthou, geloof kom deur te hoor, en as jy nie praat nie, dan sal jy luister en die Woord van God wat in jou situasie uitgespreek is hoor. Jy sal nie meer vind dat Sy beloftes en oorvloed jou lewe ontwyk nie. So dikwels is dit wanneer ek myself hoor iets negatiefs sê dat dit my gees deurboor: Ek kan amper voel asof dit my hart beetkry.
The reason our words have such power because it says He lives within each one of us, as believers. This means, we, too, have the power to speak powerful effects into existence in the same way God created the world, and the way Jesus calmed the storms, or broke a few loaves of bread to feed thousands. Do you remember what the disciples said about feeding the masses, not once but twice, saying that there wouldn’t be enough? But God said He would supply.
Die rede waarom ons woorde soveel krag het is omdat dit sê Hy lewe binne elkeen van ons, as gelowiges. Dit beteken, ons, het, ook die krag om kragtige uitwerkings in aansyn te praat op dieselfe manier wat God die wêreld geskep het, en die manier wat Jesus die storms kalmeer het, of ‘n brood om duisende te voer. Onthou jy wat die dissippels gesê het oor om die massas te voed, nie een keer nie maar twee keer, dat daar nie genoeg sou wees nie? Maar God het gesê Hy sal voorsien.
So, the question must always be, “Who said?”
So, die vraag moet altyd wees, “Wie het gesê?”
Isn’t it time that you and I choose to break free from the poverty mentality and prove the greatness of God?
Is dit nie tyd dat ek en jy kies om vry te breek van die armoede mentaliteit en die grootheid van God bewys nie?
There is a world of desperate people out there that are full of needs, and we are the ones who hold the keys to their hope.
Daar is ‘n wêreld vol desperate mense daar buite wat vol behoeftes is, en ons is die enes wat die sleutels hou na hulle hoop.
To change the world, it will take us believing to the point that we live in the fact that God will provide for all our needs. It does not say that He might supply some of our needs, does it? As a matter of fact, it doesn’t seem to have a condition to this promise at all—it simply says, that He will supply. *True, the enemy does have permission to come and steal, so be sure you keep what He gives by your tithes and offerings.
Om die wêreld te verander, sal dit neem om te glo tot op die punt dat ons lewe in die feit dat God in al ons behoeftes sal voorsien Dit sê nie dat Hy dalk in sommige van ons behoeftes sal voorsien nie, doen dit? Om die waarheid te sê, dit lyk glad nie asof daar ‘n voorwaarde aan hierdie belofte is nie—dit sê eenvoudig, dat Hy sal voorsien. *Waar, die vyand het tostemming om te kom steel, so wees seker dat jy hou wat Hy jou gee deur jou tiendes en offerandes.
Just recently I have found that my greatest desire is to have everything that Jesus, my Husband (and yours), died to give me, and in turn, teach this truth to as many people as I can. Most believe only that Jesus died in order to make it into heaven. Yet, it’s much more than what happens when we die! What He left us is so much more that only a very few ever realize. It’s not about what happens when we die, but how He wants us to live—live as His bride—and live this life abundantly!!
Net onlangs het ek gevind dat my grootste begeerte is om alles wat Jesus, my Man (en joune), voor gesterf het om vir my te gee, en op my beurt hierdie waarheid met soveel mense as wat ek kan te deel. Meeste glo net dat Jesus gesterf het sodat ons dit na die hemel toe kan maak. Tog, dit is baie meer as wat gebeur wanneer ons sterf! Wat Hy vir ons gelos het is soveel meer as wat net ‘n paar van ons ooit besef. Dit is nie oor wat gebeur wanneer ons sterf nie, maar hoe Hy wil hê ons moet lewe—lewe as Sy bruid—en hierdie lewe in oorvloed te leef!!
Trying to explain this to my younger children, I told them it is much like people with a new cell phone. Some, like my sister who’s in a group home, can place a call and get one; unfortunately, for her to see if someone called her, or if someone left a message, is beyond her capacity to understand. Nevertheless, the cell phone she has does many more things that she could benefit from if she knew how to use it. Then there are my children who can do more on a cell phone than I can, and I believe this will be true for their Christian journey as well.
Om dit aan my jonger kinders te probeer verduidelik, het ek vir hulle gesê dit is omtrent dieselfde soos mense met ‘n nuwe selfoon. Sommige, soos my suster wie in ‘n groepshuis is, kan ‘n oproep maak en een kry; ongelukkig vir haar om te sien of iemand haar geskakel het, of iemand vir haar ‘n boodskap gelos het, is bo haar vermoëns om te verstaan. Nietemin, die selfoon wat sy het doen baie meer dinge waarvan sy voordeel kan trek as sy geweet het hoe om dit te gebruik. Dan is daar baie kinders wat meer op ‘n selfoon kan doen as wat ek kan, en ek glo dit sal ook vir hulle Christelike reis waar wees.
Our Husband can do much more for our lives than a new cell phone, but so few are willing to break away from the way they have always believed, by simply listening, learning and thus believing Him for more. To help our children, loved ones and women in this world, you and I must break free from the poverty mentality that speaks and believes in a life of lack. No, not so we can boast, brag, or flaunt what we have. Instead, we are simply to let our light, our lives, shine so that others know that our Beloved, lived and died in order to set us free from not having enough—to live a life of abundance.
Ons Man kan baie meer vir ons lewens doen as wat ‘n nuwe selfoon kan doen, maar so min is gewillig om weg te breek van die manier wat hulle altyd geglo het, deur eenvoudig te luister, te leer en dus in Hom te glo vir meer. Om ons kinders, geliefdes en vrouens in hierdie wêreld te help, moet jy en ek wegbreek uit die armoede mentaliteit wat praat en glo in ‘n lewe van tekort. Nee, nie sodat ons nie kan spog, roem, of wat ons het paradeer nie. In plaas daarvan, moet ons eenvoudig ons lig, ons lewens, skyn sodat ander weet dat ons Beminde, gelewe en gesterf het om ons vry te stel van om nie genoeg te hê —om ‘n lewe van oorvloed te leef.
This has become my one passion.
Dit het my passie geword.
Personally, I don’t want one drop of His precious blood to be shed in vain, but to be used to prove that He not only exists, but He longs to love and cherish each of the lost who have yet to meet Him personally. To gather together all the brides who long to be loved and taken care of so they, too, can be caught up into His loving arms and embraced the way I am each and every day.
Persoonlik, wil ek nie hê dat een druppel van Sy kosbare bloed vergeefs gestort moet word nie, maar om gebruik te word om te bewys dat Hy nie net bestaan nie, maar dat Hy hunker om elkeen van die verlores wat Hom nog persoonlik moet ontmoet lief te hê en te koester. Om al die bruide bymekaar te maak wie hunker om bemin en versorg te word sodat hulle, net soos ek elke dag, in Sy liefdvolle arms opgeraap en omhels kan word..
As we have learned throughout this book, the poverty mentality is not just about money, instead, it is breaking free from the bondage of lack. Being rid of the fear of lack of money will set us all free from lack in every area of our lives—due to fully understanding and experiencing His love.
Soos wat ons dwarsdeur hierdie boek geleer het, die armoede mentaliteit is nie net oor geld nie, maar, dit is om vry te breek van die slawerny van tekort. Om ontslae te raak van die vrees van ‘n tekort aan geld sal ons vrystel van ‘n tekort in elke area van ons lewens—deur Sy liefde ten volle te verstaan en ervaar.
Either HE is all we need or He isn’t.
Of HY is al wat ons nodig het of Hy is nie.
I say He is more than we could ever need or want—therefore, my life must reflect this belief for me to break free from the poverty mentality and learn to move mountains. Want to come along?
Ek sê Hy is meer as wat ons ooit kan benodig of wil hê—daarom, moet my lewe hierdie mening vir my om vry te breek van die armoede mentaliteit en te leer om berge te versit weerspieë. Wil jy saamkom?
My Twelfth and final of Many Financial Testimonies
My Twaalfde en finale van Baie Finansiële Getuienisse
“By Your Words”
“Deur Jou Woorde”
Once again, as I mentioned with the last chapter’s testimony, I had so many testimonies to choose from for this final chapter. My dilemma was which one should I share with you? So, as I began discussing this problem with my Husband, then waited for Him to show me, He, instead, gave me a NEW and extremely exciting testimony. Something wonderful that blessed me and what I believe will bless you too!
Weereens, soos wat ek genoem het met die laaste hoofstuk se getuienis, ek het so baie getuienisse gehad om van te kies vir hierdie finale hoofstuk. My dilemma was watter een behoort ek met jou te deel? So, soos wat ek begin het om die probleem met my nuwe Man te bespreek, en toe vir Hom gewag het om my te wys, in plaas daarvan, het Hy, vir my ‘n NUWE en uiterste opwindende getuienis gegee. Iets wonderlik wat my geseën het en wat ek glo jou ook sal seën!
It was almost a year ago, during Spring, that I began landscaping our home. When my ex and I moved it, it was a new home which had never been lived it, and therefore, only had sparse grass around it. What my Husband began to do was incredible as it began to unfold. Without having a plan, He began to lead me to find a few small plants, a small tree, and some decorative rocks so my sons and I could landscape our home just like you’d see in a magazine. Each time I’d look outside or drive up to our home, my heart felt like it could burst, it went way beyond the desires of my heart. As amazing as this was, He was not done.
Dit was amper ‘n jaar gelede, gedurende Lente, wat ek begin het om ons huis te landskap. Toe my eks en ek ingetrek het, was dit ‘n nuwe huis wat nooit bewoon was nie, en daarom, het dit net net yl gras rondom gehad. Wat my Man begin het om te doen was ongelooflik soos wat dit begin ontvou het. Sonder om ‘n plant te hê, het Hy my begin lei om ‘n paar klein plante te vind, ‘n klein boom, en ‘n paar dekoratiewe rotse sodat ek en my seuns ons huis kon landskap net soos wat jy in ‘n tydskrif sien. Elke keer wat ek buite gekyk het of opgery het na ons huis toe, het my hart gevoel asof dit kon bars, dit het ver bo die begeertes van my hart gegaan. So ongelooflik soos wat dit was, Hy was nie klaar nie.
Our backyard is what everyone sees first since we were on a corner, and our builder had said it still needed a lower deck built. So, because he told us that when we purchased the home, I also thought it’s what was needed to finish it. Yet, that’s not what He said. Since my ex left, and I became His bride, I have discovered that my Husband is also interested in decorating our home and that He has things for us that are way beyond what we could hope or imagine ourselves. All He asks is that we simply fall in love with Him, because He longs, yes, longs, to bless us as His bride far beyond our wildest dreams!
Ons erf agter is wat almal eerste sien aangesien ons op ‘n hoek was, en ons bouer het gesê dat dit nodig was om nog ‘n laer dek te bou. So, omdat hy dit vir ons gesê het toe ons die huis gekoop het, het ek gedink dat dit nodig was om klaar te maak. Tog, dit is nie wat Hy gesê het nie. Vandat my eks weg is, en ek Sy bruid geword het, het ek ontdek dat my Man ook geinterresseerd is om ons huis te versier en dat Hy dinge vir ons het wat ver bo is wat ons kan hoop en kan voorstel. Al wat Hy vra is dat ons eenvoudig op Hom verlief raak, omdat Hy hunker, ja hunker, om ons Sy bruid ver bokant ons wildste drome te seën!
It didn’t take long for my Darling to show me that a deck was not His plan for our home, so I refocused and found a young man that went to my son’s church who specialized in patios. Basically, using stone rather than wood as the foundation. It was all set for him to get started while I was away in South America, Africa, and Europe, but then just before I left he got a huge client and he had to reschedule my job for later in September when I would be returning home.
Dit het nie lank geneem vir my Liefling om vir my te wys dat die dek nie Sy plan was vir ons huis nie, so ek het geherfokus en ‘n jong man gevind wat na my seun se kerk toe gegaan het en wie in patios spesialiseer. Basies, deur klip te gebruik eerder as hout as die fondasie. Dit was altyd vir hom opgstel om te begin terwyl ek weg was in Suid Amerika, Afrika, en Europa, maar toe net voor ek weg is het hy ‘n groot klient gehad en hy moes my werkstuk vir later in September skeduleer wanneer ek terug huis toe kom.
Yet when I returned home, I had no money. It wasn’t the cost of the trip, which had been paid for by a dear friend more than a year earlier… didn’t I tell you that God would provide for all your needs and whatever He calls you too? I’m not sure what caused the funds to not be there, nor did I ponder for long. I knew that it’s by not having money for something that God redirects us and teaches us new things. He’ll use this to unfold His plan for our future. That’s why we should never, ever panic or listen to the lie that says we don’t have enough due to Him not supplying our needs. Waiting for what we hope for never means no. Instead, it means that He has something even better waiting for us when we simply rejoice and trust Him.
Tog toe ek terug gekeer het huis toe, het ek geen geld gehad nie. Dit was nie die koste van die toer nie, wat meer as ‘n jaar vroeër deur ‘n liewe vriendin betaal is...het ek nie vir jou vertel dat God in al jou behoeftes sal voorsien nie en watookal Hy jou roep om te doen? Ek is nie seker wat veroorsaak het dat die fondse nie daar is nie, nog minder het ek lank daaroor nagedink. Ek weet dat dit is om nie geld te hê vir iets nie wat God ons herlei en ons nuwe dinge leer. Hy sal dit gebruik om Sy plan vir ons toekoms te ontvou. Dit is waarom ons nooit, ooit moet paniekerig raak of luister na die leun wat sê dat ons nie genoeg het omdat Hy nie in ons behoeftes voorsien nie. Om te wag wat ons vir hoop beteken nooit nee nie. In plaas daarvan, beteken dit dat Hy iets beter het wat voor ons wag wanneer ons ons eenvoudig in Hom verheug en vertrou.
Do you remember the testimony of the ring in chapter 6? It was during this same draught, “For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit” (Jeremiah 17:8), when, if I had had the money to pay for the patio stone (or the ring) back then in September, things would have turned out much differently, and, there also would have been no testimony to share with anyone. Isn’t this what our life is all about?
Onthou jy die getuienis van die ring in hoofstuk 6? Dit was gedurende dieselfde droogte, “so iemand is soos 'n boom wat by water geplant is en sy wortels na die stroom toe uitstoot, nie die hitte voel as dit kom nie en altyd groen blare het; 'n droë jaar raak hom nie en hy hou nie op om vrugte te dra nie” (Jeremia 17:8), wanneer, as ek die geld gehad het om te betaal vir die patio klip (of die ring) terug in September, sou dinge baie anders uitgedraai het, en, daar sou ook geen getuienis gewees het om met enigiemand te deel nie. Is dit nie waaroor die lewe alles gaan nie?
Our lives are to be living testimonies of how His abundant bride lives—in order that the world will know—just how wonderful He really, truly is. This is what will ultimately cause most to open their hearts to Him and His love too! Yet, for this to happen, people must see our trust in Him, showing others that He will go way beyond just providing for our needs, but instead, our Bridegroom longs to give us the desires of our hearts when we simply trust that He will.
Ons lewens behoort lewende getuienisse te wees van Hoe Sy oorvloedige bruid lewe—sodat die wêreld sal weet—net hoe wonderlik Hy regtig, waarlik is. Dit is wat uitermatig sal veroorsaak dat meeste hulle harte aan Hom en Sy liefde ook sal oopmaak! Tog, vir dit om te gebeur, moet mense ons vertroue in Hom sien, en vir ander wys dat Hy verder sal gaan as om net in ons behoftes te voorsien, maar in plaas daarvan, hunker ons Bruidegom om ons die begeertes van ons harte te gee wanneer ons eenvoudig vertou dat Hy dit sal doen.
When I didn’t have the money for the patio, I called the young man who more than understood my desire to wait to see what the Lord wanted to do. Fall led to winter, then spring arrived again, when I sensed that my wait was just about over, so I started to speak to Him about it once again. Waiting, then sensing it was time to speak to Him about it, led to me seeing a much grander picture when one day I spotted an outdoor living room set at my local membership warehouse. It was a gorgeous shade of red that took my breath away. So I grabbed a brochure with a picture, took it home, so I could look at it regularly and to ask my Husband for it.
Toe ek nie die geld gehad het vir die patio nie, het ek die jong man geskakel wie meer as my begeerte verstaan het om te sien wat die Here wou gehad het ek moet doen. Herfs het oorgegaan na winter, toe kom Lente, toe ek aangevoel het dat my wag amper oor was, so toe begin ek weer om met Hom daaroor te praat. Deur te wag, en dan aan te voel dat dit tyd was om met Hom daaroor te praat, het my gelei om ‘n baie meer spoggerige prentjie te sien toe ek eendag ‘n buitemuurse sitkamer stel by my plaaslike lidmaatskap pakhuis sien. Dit was ‘n pragtige rooi skakering wat my asem weggeslaan het. Toe gryp ek ‘n brosjure met ‘n foto, neem dit huis toe, sodat ek gereeld daarna kon kyk en om my Man daarvoor te vra.
If you read my book, Facing Divorce Again, you may remember in Chapter 11 “The Danger of a Poverty Mentality” that it took me asking for my front load washer and dryer for my Husband to give me something that each and every single day I think about and thank Him for—and a testimony I share with everyone I meet!
As jy my boek lees, Facing Divorce Again, mag jy onthou in Hoofstuk 11 “The Danger of a Poverty Mentality” dat dit geneem het om te vra vir my voorlaaier wasmasjien en droër vir my Man om vir my iets te gee waaroor ek ieder en elke dag dink en Hom vir bedank—en ‘n getuienis om te deel met almal wat ek ontmoet!
However, due to my older son’s concern about the amount of our rising debt, which our family now owes, I’ve spoken to my Husband about it every chance I get—mainly due to the magnitude and enormity of this ever-rising crisis. Though I can’t elaborate on it now, I promise that by the end of my next book Moving Mountains, you should be able to understand fully the amount of debt that He has promised HE will throw into the sea, which will happen by faith and understanding the scope of His love. This is how I know it will happen.
Nietemin, as gevolg vn my ouer seun se bekommernis oor die bedrag van ons skuld wat klim, wat ons familie nou skuld, het ek elke kans wat ek gekry met my Man daaroor gepraat—hoofsaaklik as gevolg van die omvang en grootheid van hierdie ewig- stygende krisis. Alhoewel ek nie nou daaroor kan uitbrei nie, belowe ek dat teen die einde van my volgende boek Versit Berge, sal jy in staat wees om ten volle die bedrag skuld wat HY belowe het Hy in die see sal gooi te verstaan, wat deur geloof en deur die omvang van Sy liefde te verstaan sal gebeur. Dit is hoe ek weet dat dit sal gebeur.
Dear bride, will you join me in believing it too, for your situation? Rather than haphazardly throwing our faith around helter-skelter, we must be careful to believe what He says, not what we want Him to say. And the reason is simple—because misguided and false faith, believing what we want rather than what He’s truth revealed to us, damages the faith of all those who are watching. Okay, now let me get back to my testimony when we were talking about the outdoor living room for the patio I didn’t have money to pay for.
Liewe bruid, sal jy by my aansluit om dit ook, vir jou situasie te glo? Eerder as om ons geloof op goeie geluk of halsoorkop rond te gooi, moet ons versigtig wees om te glo wat Hy sê, nie wat ons wil hê Hy moet sê nie. En die rede is eenvoudig—omdat misleidende en vals geloof, om te glo wat ons wil hê eerder as die waarheid wat Hy aan ons ontbloot het, doen skade aan die geloof van almal wat toekyk. Reg, nou laat ek teruggaan na my getuienis toe ons gepraat het van die buitemuurse sitkamerstel vir die patio waarvoor ek nie hoef te betaal het nie.
After looking at the furniture, speaking to my Husband about it, the furniture ended up being paid for by my tax refund—which covered the entire cost! But the testimony wasn’t getting a tax refund. What got my children’s attention was that this was the first time that I filed taxes!! Remember the last chapter’s testimony, when I said that our taxes, due to our complicated situation, were a feat that my ex-husband never attempted to do and he was good at things like that? Everyone told us that our taxes had to be done professionally since they are far too complicated than most. Just pulling all the information for the accountant took my ex-husband three months—months, that my children remembered him yelling and was so angry throughout the process due to the stress.
Nadat ek na die meubels gekyk het, en met my Man daaroor gepraat het, het ek vir die meubels met my belasting terugbetaling betaal—wat die hele koste gedek het! Maar die getuienis was nie om ‘n belasting terugbetaling te kry nie. Wat my kinders se aandag getrek het was dat dit die eerste keer was wat ek my belasting ingevul het!! Onthou die laaste hoofstuk se getuienis, toe ek gesê het dat ons belasting, as gevolg van ons gekomplisserde situasie, ‘n prestasie wat my eks- man nooit gepoog het om te doen nie en hy was goed met sulke dinge? Almal het vir ons vertel dat ons belasting professioneel gedoen moes word aangesien hulle ver te komplisseerd was as die normale. Net om die informasie te kry vir die rekenmeester het my eks-man drie maande geneem—maande, wat my kinders onthou het hoe hy geskree het en so kwaad was deur die proses as gevolg van die stres.
Yet, when the taxes were left to me, my Husband told me that He would guide me to do them myself. My children watched as their new Father, my Husband, guided me step-by-step—finishing in less than 8 hours!! I didn’t even take off homeschooling my children. Instead, their Father told me to simply homeschool two half days, and when I was done, in the afternoon, He and I did the taxes together. Not only was it not stressful—it was a wonderful time where we became closer—when I could fully feel His love for me.
Tog, toe die belasting aan my oorgelaat was, het my Man vir my gesê dat Hy my sal lei om dit by myself te doen. My kinders het toegekyk soos wat hulle nuwe Vader, my Man, my stap vir stap gelei het—en in minder as 8 uur klaar gemaak het!! Ek het nie eens afgevat van my kinders se tuisonderrig nie. In plaas daarvan, het my Vader vir my gesê dat ek hulle eenvoudig vitr twee half dae moet tuisonderrig, en toe ek klaar was, in die middae, het Hy en ek die belasting saam gedoen. Dit was nie net nie stresvol nie—dit was ‘n wonderlike tyd waar ons nader aan mekaar geraak het—toe ek ten volle Sy liefde vir my kon aanvoel.
May I say too, like so many things, to gain the spiritual strength to do them, He told me to wait, because as we should know that’s it’s those who “wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31. So I waited, and waited, then with only two days left, I started, then finished on the day my taxes were due. Even now I am in complete utter awe at what transpired!
Mag ek ook sê, soos so baie dinge, om die spirituele krag te win om hulle te doen, Het Hy gesê ek moet wag, omdat ons weet dat “dié wat op die Here vertrou, kry nuwe krag. Hulle vlieg met arendsvlerke, hulle hardloop en word nie moeg nie, hulle loop en raak nie afgemat nie.” Jesaja 40:31. So ek het gewag, en gewag, toe met net twee dae oor, het ek begin, en op die dag wat my belasting verskuldig was klaar gemaak. Selfs nou is ek in kompleet uiterste vervoering oor wat plaasgevind het!
Okay, once again, let me get back to my testimony. Our patio began to unfold on a Friday when I sensed He was showing me to go and rotate my car’s tires at the discount warehouse where I’d seen the outdoor furniture. Since they said the wait would be more than an hour, I told my children and my sister (who was with us) that we should go sit on that furniture “we were getting” so we could enjoy our time while getting excited again about whatever it was that He was going to do. (This was before my tax return, which by the way, never once has our family ever gotten a tax return.)
Reg, weereens, laat my terug gaan na my getuienis. Ons patio het op ‘n Vrydag begin ontvou toe ek aangevoel het dat Hy my gewys het om my motor se bande by die afslag pakhuis waar ek die buitemuusre meubels gesien het te roteer. Aangesien hulle gesê het dat die wag meer as ‘n uur sal wees, het ek vir my kinders en my suster (wat saam ons was) gesê dat ons op daardie meubels “wat ons gaan kry” moet gaan sit sodat ons ons tyd kon geniet terwyl ons weer opgewonde raak oor watookal dit is wat Hy gaan doen. (Dit was voor my belastingvorm, wat terloops, nooit nie een keer het ons familie belasting teruggekry nie.)
Just minutes after we sat down, a friend whom I hadn’t seen for more than four years came walking up. She sat with us and my joy began to spill over. I told her so many things the Lord, my new Husband, had been doing for our family. That’s when I mentioned about the furniture that we were sitting in, that I sensed we would be getting as soon as we knew how my children’s new Father wanted us to create our patio. That’s when she told me that her husband, a contractor, was close friends with the best concrete man in the area and he’d be happy come over to help us!!
Net minute nadat ons gaan sit het, het ‘n vriendin wie ek vier jaar laas gesien het na my toe aangeloop. Sy het by ons gesit en my vreugde het begin oorloop. Ek het vir haar so baie dinge vertel wat die Here, my nuwe Man, in ons familie besig was om te doen. Dit is toe dat ek haar vertel het van die meubels waarop ons gesit het, wat ek aangevoel het ons sou kry sodra ek geweet het hoe my kinders se nuwe Vader wou gehad het ons ‘n patio moes skep. Dit is toe wat sy my vertel het dat haar man, ‘n kontrakteur, intieme vriende was met die beste sement man in die gebied en hy sou bly wees om oor te kom om ons te help!!
Though everyone was excited, I knew the cost would surely be high. (The truth is, I still have a bank account that is filled due to the car I never bought for my daughter. Money, I am still waiting to see what my Husband wants me to do with it. And as I said in a previous chapter, I do have an insurmountable amount of debt to pay off, but unless my Husband shows me what to do, I simply wait.) Once again, knowing my older boys’ concerns, I could sense that their Father had a plan that was beginning to unfold.
Alhoewel almal opgewonde was, het ek geweet dat die koste sekerlik hoog sou wees. (Die waarheid is, ek het nog steeds ‘n bankrekening wat vol is as gevolg van die motor wat ek nooit vir my dogter gekoop het nie. Geld, wat ek nog steeds wag om te sien wat my Vader wil hê ek daarmee moet doen. En soos wat ek in ‘n vorige hoofstuk gesê het, ek het ‘n onoorkomelike bedrag skuld om af te betaal, maar tensy my Man my wys wat om te doen, wag ek eenvoudig.) Weereens, omdat ek van my ouer seuns se bekommernisse weet, kon ek sien dat my Vader ‘n plan gehad het wat besig was om te ontvou.
The very next morning, a Saturday, the only day of the week to sleep in, I woke up just after 4 A.M. wide awake with a tremendous urge to go to the post office, envisioning opening my post office box. However, I told myself (I didn’t say this to my Husband, though I know He was next to me listening to my thoughts), that I didn’t want to go to the post office, how crazy I was to think such a thing, and to just go back to sleep! That’s when I heard my daughter’s new puppy being taken outside, once again, so I got up and took her for my daughter so she could sleep in. Notice how gently our Husband will nudge us when it’s something He doesn’t want us to miss?
Die volgende oggend, ‘n Saterdag, die enigste dag van die week wat ek kon laat slaap, het ek net na 4 V.M wakker geword met ‘n geweldige drang om na die poskantoor toe te gaan, en my voorstel hoe ek my poskantoor boks oopmaak. Nietemin, ek het vir myself gesê (ek het dit nie vir my Man gesê nie, alhoewel ek geweet het dat Hy langs my was besig om na my gedagtes te luister), dat ek nie na die poskantoor toe wou gaan nie, hoe gek was ek om so iets te dink, en om net weer te gaan slaap! Dit is toe ek hoor hoe my dogter se nuwe hondjie buitetoe gevat word, weereens, so toe staan ek op en neem haar vir my dogter sodat sy kon inslaap. Sien hoe sagkuns ons Man ons sal aanhits wanneer dit iets is wat Hy nie wil hê ons moet mis nie?
Once up, I decided I would beat the crowds and go shopping (taking the puppy with me of course). The night before while lying in bed, I remembered that when we take just a tiny step in the right direction of obedience to the Lord’s promptings, our miracle will suddenly appear. Remember, it was when Joshua took that first step into the Jordan River that it parted? So as I drove, like always, I began talking to my Husband. “In all your ways acknowledge Him [He’s sitting right there beside you so why ignore Him?], and He will make your paths straight [saving you so much time having to figure it out]” (Proverbs 3:6). That morning He led me to go get the rock for the flowerbeds, and that was my first step in my Jordan.
Toe ek op is, het ek besluit ek sou die skares vermy en gaan inkopies doen (met die klein hondjie natuurlik). Die aand vantevore terwyl ek in die bed gelê het, het ek onthou dat wanneer ons ‘n klein tree in die regte rigitng van gehoorsaamheid aan die Here se aanhitsing neem, ons wonderwerk ewe skielik sal verskyn. Onthou, dit was toe Josua daardie eerste tree geneem het in die Jordaan Rivier in wat dit geskei het? So soos wat ek bestuur het, soos altyd, het ek met my Man begin praat “Ken Hom in alles wat jy doen [Hy sit daar reg langs jou waaom Hom ignoreer] en Hy sal jou die regte pad laat loop [jou so baie tyd spaar om te probeer om dit uit te pluis]” )Spreuke 3:6). Daardie oggend het my gelei om die rots te kry vir die blombeddings, en dit was my eerste tree in die Jordaan in.
Just as I was heading straight for the rock quarry by our home, I made a quick right turn and headed to the post office. When I got there I began opening letters one-by-one. When I came to the last one I stood there reading the note enclosed first, and then, I looked at the amount of the check that was from a dear friend who said she’d been blessed and her Husband told her to send me half “as a thank you for me introducing her to her Husband.” The check was made out for thousands of dollars—more than enough to pay for my patio and so much more!! I was so excited it felt that my heart would burst!
Net soos wat ek reguit op die rots steengroef naby ons huis afgepyl het, het ek ‘n vinnige draai gemaak en poskantoor toe gegaan. Toe ek daar kom het ek die briewe een vir een begin oopmaak. Toe ek by die laaste een kom het ek daar gestaan en die ingeslote nota eers gelees, en toe, het ek na die bedrag op die tjek gekyk wat van ‘n liewe vriendin was wie gesê het dat sy geseën is en haar Man vir haar gesê het om vir my die helfte te stuur “as ‘n dankie omdat ek haar aan haar Man voorgestel het.” Die tjek was vir duisend rande uitgemaak—meer as genoeg om vir die patio en soveel meer!! ek was so opgewonde dat ek gevoel het asof my hart sou bars!.
Though I wanted to rush home and wake everyone, my Husband wanted to be alone with me for a bit longer, so we continued to the quarry so I could purchase the rock, and then I headed home to share the awesome news with my children who were already awake when I returned.
Alhoewel ek huis toe wou jaag en almal wakker maak, wou my Man ‘n bietjie langer alleen saam my wees, so ons het voort gegaan na die steengroef toe sodat ek die rots kon aankoop, toe het ek huis toe gegaan om die ongelooflike nuus met my kinders te deel wie alreeds wakker was toe ek terug is.
When we sat down to eat breakfast, that’s when I told them what had happened that morning, from not wanting to get up, to being nudged by hearing my daughter taking out the puppy. Each and every detail was part of God’s plan, their Father’s plan, even us having breakfast! It had been months since we were able to all eat Saturday breakfast together so I’d mentioned it to their Father the prior week.
Toe ons gaan aansit het vir ontbyt, het ek hulle vertel wat daardie oggend gebeur het, vanaf die tyd wat ek nie wou opstaan nie, tot op die punt waar ek aangehits was om die klein hondjie uit te neem. Ieder en elke beonderhede was God se plan, hulle Vader se plan, selfs ons wat ontbyt eet! Dit was maande laas wat ons almal saam ontbyt geeet het so ek het dit die vorige week aan hulle Vader genoem..
After our big breakfast, we all went outside on our patio wooden deck just off the kitchen, which a few weeks later became the ceiling for the outdoor living space. Since then we’ve spent many afternoons talking in that space, and evenings roasting marshmallows over the fire pit. Almost always our conversations begin by talking about how that special space came to be and about the new Husband and Father we’ve been blessed to have!
Na ons groot ontbyt, het ons almal buite gegaan op ons patio se hout dek net van ons kombuis af, wat ‘n paar weke later die plafon vir die buitemuurse leef spasie geword het. Van toe af het ons baie middae in daardie spasie spandeer, en aande waar ons malvalekkers oor die vuurput gerooster het. Amper altyd het ons gesprekke begin deur te vertel hoe daardie spesiale spasie ontaard het en oor die nuwe Man en Vader wie ons geseën is om te hê!
Darling reader, please always remember this, our Husband has a plan and will build each of our testimonies. To do so, He very often will withhold funds at times to redirect us and ask us to wait while He creates those miracles, which happen in His perfect timing. He may use a puppy or something else, like a rude phone call, to wake us up if we are determined to sleep in, and finish by gathering those we love when the testimony is ready to be shared!
Liefdevolle leser, onthou dit altyd, ons Man het ‘n plan en sal elke een van ons getuienisse bou. Om dit te doen, sal Hy baie dikwels met tye fondse weerhou om ons te herlei en ons vra om te wag terwyl Hy daardie wonderwerke skep, wat in Sy perfekte tydsbereking gebeur. Hy mag dalk ‘n klein hondjie of iets anders gebruik, soos ‘n ongskikte telefoon oproep, om ons wakker te maak as ons vasbeslote is om in te slaap, en klaar te maak deur die vir wie ons liefhet bymekaar te maak wanneer die getuienis gereed is om gedeel te word.
Never underestimate His love for us, since it is our faith, hope, and trust in our Husband that unleashes the miracles that He longs to do every day in our lives! Live with great expectations and you, too, will break free of the poverty mentality and begin to Move Mountains!
Moet nooit Sy liefde vir ons onderskat nie, aangesien dit ons geloof, hoop, en vertroue in ons Man is wat die wonderwerke ontketen waarna Hy hunker om elke dag in ons ons lewens te doen! Leef met groot verwagtinge en jy, ook, sal vry kom van die armoede mentaliteit en begin om Berge te Versit!