Hoofstuk 5 “Hopeloos Behoeftig aan Hom”

“One thing I have asked—

To behold the beauty of the LORD”

—Psalm 27:4

“Net een ding het ek van die HERE gevra—

om sy goedheid te belewe”

—Psalms 27:4

 

How many of us cringe because of our current financial situation (or any one of our many difficult situations) that are at the level of being considered a crisis in our lives?

Hoe baie van ons krimp ineen as gevolg van ons huidige finansiële situasie (of enige een van ons meer moeilike situasies) wat op die vlak is om oorweeg te word as ‘n krisis in ons lewens?

Though we cringe at first, it is only when we are in this place of being hopelessly in need of Him when we will really see Him face-to-face! It is when we are backed to the Red Sea, or in the grave for four days and beginning to stink when we truly see the glory of God, right? Then why do we try everything we can to not get ourselves into situations like this and try, in vain, to get ourselves out of these predicaments?

Alhoewel ons in die begin ineenkrimp, is dit net wanneer ons op die plek kom waar ons hopeloos aan hom behoeftig is wanneer ons Hom regtig van aangesig tot aangesig aanskou! Dit is wanneer ons opgestoot is teen die Rooi See, of in die graf vir vier dae en begin stink wanneer ons die glorie van God sien, reg? Dan waarom probeer ons alles doen wat ons kan om onsself nie in situasies soos dit te kry nie en probeer, tevergeefs, om onsself uit hierdie penarie te kry? 

Please don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that we should purposely try to ruin our finances, or our relationships or our health just so we can see God perform a miracle and witness our Husband face-to-face. What I am wondering is why we “wait until the last moment” before we honestly and fully turn everything over to Him and stop trying to stop the inevitable?

Mot my nie verkeerd verstaan nie, ek sê nie ons moet doelbewus probeer om on finansies te ruïneer nie, of ons verhoudings of ons gesondheid net sodat ons kan sien hoe God ‘n wonderwerk teweeg bring nie en ons Man van aangesig tot aangesig getuig. Waaroor ek wonder is waarom ons “tot die laaste oomblik wag” voordat ons eerlik en ten volle alles na Hom toe oorgee en probeer om die onvermydelike te stop?

Before any of us are willing to give whatever it is—totally and completely to our Savior, our Husband—we make absolutely sure that we perform at least one or more “last ditch efforts” to save or rescue ourselves. How stubborn we are. “Know, then, it is not because of your righteousness that the LORD your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stubborn people” (Deuteronomy 9:6). I don’t believe that you and I try to appear stubborn; I believe that we wrongly believe that God will think us foolish or maybe it’s that we fear other people (if they knew) would think us irresponsible?

Voordat enige een van ons gewillig is om te gee watookal dit is—totaal en heeltemal aan ons Redder, ons Man—maak ons absoluut seker dat ons ten minste een “laaste poging” aanwend om onsself te red of te verlos. Hoe hardkoppig is ons. “Jy moet goed onthou dat die Here jou God nie hierdie goeie land vir jou gee om in besit te neem omdat jy volmaak is nie. Jy is ‘n hardkoppige volk” (Deuteronomium 9:6). Ek glo nie dat ek of jy probeer om hardkoppig voor te kom nie; Ek glo dat ons foutief glo dat God sal dink dat ons dwaas is of miskien is dit dat ons ander mense vrees (as hulle geweet het) wat sal dink ons is onverantwoordelik?

For me, I believe I fall into the last category. No matter how much I try to shake it, what other people think tries to invade my faith. So far I have made it to the point that I am down to just one group of people who concern me, and that group is my children, primarily my older children. However, I’m thankful that I see this concern has diminished or lessening slowly day-by-day as things grow to absurdity in every area of my life, especially financially.

Vir my, glo ek ek val in die laaste kategorie. Maak nie saak hoe ek dit wil afskud nie, wat ander mense dink probeer om my geloof binne te dring. So ver het ek dit tot op die punt gemaak waar ek af is na net een groep mense waaroor ek omgee, en daardie groep is my kinders, hoofsaaklik my ouer kinders. Nietemin, ek is dankbaar dat ek sien dat hierdie bekommernis afneem of dag vir dag verminder soos wat dinge tot onsinnigheid groei in elke area van my lewe, spesiaal finansieël.   

Though I do my best to keep everything to myself (which is a huge change in me since I used to be the one who has always been willing to foolishly “tell all” so that I had everyone else’s opinion to help confuse me), I have noticed that when we do our best to be discrete, then the Lord will begin revealing things to others—in order that we are forced to share our faith with them. Have you noticed that too?

Alhoewel ek my bes doen om alles vir myself te hou (wat ‘n groot verandering in my is aangesien ek die een was wat altyd gewillig was om “alles te vertel” sodat ek almal se mening gehad het om te help om my te verwar), ek het agter gekom dat wanneer ons ons bes doen om diskreet te wees, dan sal die Here begin om dinge aan ander te openbaar—sodat ons geforseer is om ons geloof met ander te deel. Het jy dit ook agter gekom? 

Over the course of this year, the Lord continues to put me (and our finances) in very precarious perils, so much so, that invariably I was recently forced to reveal what happened to get us to this place and what I plan to do about it. The truth is, there is nothing, really, that I can do about my situation. God’s plan, in order for Him to receive glory and finish whatever it is He has planned, has put me, us, our family, in an impossible situation on purpose.

Oor die verloop van hierdie jaar, gaan die Here voort om vir my (en ons finansies) in baie onseker gevare te plaas, soveel so dat ek onlangs sonder uitsondering geforseer was om te ontbloot wat gebeur het om ons tot op hierdie plek gebring het en wat ek beplan om daaroor te doen. Die waarheid is, daar is niks, regtig, wat ek oor my situasie kan doen nie. God se plan, sodat Hy die glorie kan ontvang en klaar maak watookal Hy beplan het, het vir my, ons, ons familie, doelbewus in ‘n onmoontlike situasie geplaas.  

“‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope’” (Jeremiah 29:11).

“‘Ek weet wat Ek vir julle beplan, sê die HERE: voorspoed en nie teenspoed nie; ‘n verwagting! Dan sal julle my aanroep, tot my kom bid, en ek sal julle gebede verhoor’” (Jeremia 29:11).

When we have an illness, we instinctively do all we can to get healthy, and when we have exhausted our ability to get well, we usually turn to our doctor. If the illness gets worse, we demand more tests, and if unsatisfied, we seek another opinion. It isn’t until the doctor finds the “incurable”—the cancer or the inoperable tumor or terminal illness—that we finally fall on our faces before God and surrender it all to Him, putting our entire trust in Him.

Wanneer ons ‘n siekte het, sal ons instinktief alles doen wat ons kan om gesond te word, en wanneer ons ons vermoë om gesond te word uitgeput het, gaan ons gewoonlik dokter toe. As die siekte erger word, vereis ons meer toetse, en as ons onbevredig is, soek ons ‘n ander mening. Dit is nie todat die dokter die “ongeneesbare”—die kanker of die onopereerbare gewas of terminale siekte vind wat ons finaal op ons gesigte voor God val en dit alles aan Hom oorgee, en al ons  vertroue in Hom plaas.

Why do we wait until we have exhausted all of our resources, and everyone who we think can help us? Pleading with everyone we know BEFORE we simply put all of our trust in the Lord for what He can do?

Waarom wag ons totdat ons al ons hulpbronne uitgeput het, en almal wat ons dink ons kan help? Met almal pleit wat ons ken VOOR ons eenvoudig al ons vertroue in die Here plaas vir wat Hy kan doen?

Is it pride, arrogance, or ignorance? Do we really believe the old saying that, “God helps those who help themselves”? Just for your information, that may be one of the biggest lies that many Christians believe and quote often, but it is not in the Bible, nor is there a single principle even close to it. Instead, the contrary is true. Over and over again, God tells us to trust Him and no one else, surely not our flesh or even “leaning” to anything we understand. So, I have begun to choose to trust Him from the onset and fight the feeling that I must have missed Him or grieved Him or should do more to help Him when things continue to get worse instead of better.

Is dit trots, arrogansie of onkunde? Glo ons regtig die gesegde, “God help die wat hulle self help”? Net vir jou informasie, dit mag dalk een van die grootste leuns weees wat baie Christene glo en dikwels aanhaal, maar dit is nie in die Bybel nie, nog minder is daar een enkele beginsel self na aan dit. In plaas daarvan, is die teenoorgestelde waar. Oor en oor, vertel God vir ons om op Hom te vertrou en niemand anders nie, sekerlik nie ons vlees nie of selfs om staat te maak op enigiets wat ons verstaan nie. So, ek het begin om uit die staanspoor op Hom te vertrou en die gevoel dat ek Hom moes gemis het of Hom gegrief het of meer moet doen om Hom te help  wanneer dinge erger in plaas van beter word beveg. 

This is just the point—things have to get worse if we want to draw a Lazarus crowd or see a walkway built through the middle of a sea. These miracles didn’t just happen back during biblical times but are happening right now, in all of our lives if we are willing to follow Him.

Dit is net die punt—dinge moet erger raak as ons ‘n Lasarus skare wil aantrek of sien dat ‘n loopvlak deur die middel van ‘n see gebou is. Hierdie wonderwerke het nie net gedurende die Bybel se tyd gebeur nie maar gebeur nou, in al ons lewens as ons gewillig is om Hom te volg.

For me, I love seeing Him face-to-face and watch His glory pass by. I love to need Him to the point that I am desperate for His love. Yes, for me, being hopelessly in need of Him is the recommendation of this writer and for all those who want to be a part of what He is doing in these last days.

Vir my, ek is lief daarvoor om Hom van aangesig tot aangesig te aanskou en kyk hoe Sy glorie verbygaan. Ek is lief daarvoor om Hom nodig te hê tot op die punt waar ek desperaat is vir Sy liefde. Ja, vir my, om hopeloos behoeftig aan Hom te wees is die aanbeveling van hierdie skrywer en vir almal wat ‘n deel wil wees van wat Hy in hierdie laaste dae doen.

Is it scary? Yes! Oftentimes it’s very scary. But for each fear, there is a counterbalance of His love that casts out all fear. “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love” (1 John 4:18). He’s not punishing you for making a mistake, and certainly not refusing to help you for trusting Him alone.

Is dit skrikwekkend? Ja! Dikwels is dit baie skrikwekkend. Maar vir elke vrees, is daar ‘n teengewig van Sy liefde wat alle vrees verdryf. “Waar liefde is, is daar geen vrees nie, maar volmaakte liefde verdryf vrees, want vrees verwag straf, en wie nog vrees, het nie volmaakte liefde nie” (1 Johannes 4:18). Hy straf jou nie omdat jy ‘n fout gemaak het nie, en hy weier sekerlik nie om jou te help omdat jy net  op Hom alleen vertrou.

And just as we have learned in the previous chapters, it’s our testimonies that help make us overcomers. “And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even to death” (Revelation 12:11).

En net soos wat ons in die vorige hoofstukke geleer het, dit is ons getuienisse wat help om van ons oorwinnaars te maak. “Hulle het self die oorwinning oor hom behaal danksy die bloed van die Lam en die boodskap waarvan hulle getuig het; en hulle het nie hulle lewens so liefgehad dat hulle onwillig was om vir Hom te sterwe nie” (Die Openbaring 12:11).

So, dear Overcomer, here is this chapter’s testimony. Forgive me for not sharing them in chronological order, but I have never been logical—I simply am crazy for Him!

So, liewe Oorwinnaar, hier is die hoofstuk se getuienis. Vergewe my dat ek hulle nie in kronologiese volgorde deel nie, maar ek was nog nooit logies nie—ek is eenvoudig gek oor Hom!

Financial Testimony #5
Finansiële Getuienis #5

“Honeymoon Bliss”
“Wittebrood Geluksaligheid”

Can I tell you that I think that God just ROCKS? Yes, it is so true. If you don’t feel like dancing most of the time, then you are not thinking about how totally awesome God really is!! “Truly He is my Rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken” (Psalm 62:2 NIV).

Kan ek jou vertel dat ek dink dat God net die BESTE is nie Hy is my rots ? Ja , dit is so waar. As jy voel om nie die hele tyd te dans nie, dan dink jy nie hoe heeltemal onsagwekkend God regtig is nie!! Net Hy is my rots en my redding, my veilige vesting, sodat ek vas en stewig staan” (Psalms 62:2 Afr 83).

I cannot wait to tell you this precious testimony so that you can see that your blessed Savior, your Jesus, your beloved Bridegroom is way ahead of you with blessings that will blow you and everyone else away!!

Ek kan nie wag om jou van hierdie kosbare getuienis te vertel sodat jy kan sien dat jou geseënde Redder, jou Jesus, jou beminde Bruidegom ver voor jou is met seëninge wat vir jou en almal sal wegblaas!!

It was less than two weeks ago when I got a precious phone call from my son who said, “Mom, I have some exciting news, I am getting married!” I was thrilled to hear what I already thought the Lord kept telling me—I was so excited I screamed! Don’t you feel like that when the Lord tells you something and then you hear it really happened? Yet when you’ve got joy, the enemy is just waiting to steal it from you—so be ready.

Dit was minder as twee weke gelede toe ek ‘n kosbare telefoon oproep van my seun af gekry het wie gesê het, “Ma, ek het opwindende nuus, ek trou!” ek was verheug om te hoor wat ek alreeds gedink het die Here die heeltyd vir my vertel het—ek was so opgewonde dat ek uitgesree het! Voel jy nie so wanneer die Here vir jou iets vertel en dan hoor jy dat dit regtig gebeur het? Tog, wanneer jy vreugde het, wil die vyand dit net van jou af steel—so wees gereed.

God has graciously refined me and has seen fit to call me to some really huge feats. Nevertheless, the enemy still tries to tempt us by attacking our feelings, which try to come in and take over. Though thrilled, excited, and in total euphoria, within the hour jealousy tried to make me focus on the fact that my son and his fiancé were visiting with his dad and his new wife. Though this kept knocking at the door of my heart and mind, I chose to go and bolt that door! Making my way into my bedroom to be alone with my Husband, I told Him how I was feeling to which He blew me away!

God het my genadiglik verfyn en het dit goed gesien om my na sommige regte groot kordaatstukke te roep. Nietemin, die vyand probeer nog om ons te verlei deur ons gevoelens aan te val, wat probeer om in te kom en oor te vat. Alhoewel ek verheug is, opgewonde, en in totale euforie, binne ‘n uur het jaloesie probeer om my te kry om te fokus op die feit dat my seun en sy verloofde op besoek is by sy pa en sy nuwe vrou. Alhoewel hierdie gedagte aangehou het om aan die deur van my hart en verstand te klop, het ek verkies om te gaan en die deur te grendel! En die  pad na my slaapkamer toe geneem om alleen met my Man te wees, ek het Hom vertel hoe ek gevoel het toe blaas Hy my weg!

That’s when He reminded me of the plan that we always had regarding our children when they married. My ex-husband and I had purchased a timeshare in order to give our children a honeymoon to reward them for their moral purity. And due to the divorce, and my taking on all the debt, I now had the timeshare (part of the debt I took on), and the credit card, which included all the flying miles that went with it!! Soon after taking on the debt, the Lord made a way for the timeshare to be paid off, and also the credit card too! Isn’t it amazing being the bride of such a rich Man?!

Dit was toe dat Hy my herinner het aan die plan wat ons altyd gehad het betreffende ons kinders wanneer hulle trou. My eks-man en ek het ‘n tydaandeel aangekoop om vir ons kinders ‘n wittebrood te gee om hulle te vereer vir hulle morele suiwerheid. En as gevolg van die egskeiding, en ek wat al die skuld oorgeneem het, het ek nou die tydaandeel (deel van die skuld wat ek aangevat het), en die kredietkaart, wat al die vliegmyle ingesluit het wat daarmee gegaan het!! Gou na ek die skuld oorgeneem het, het die Here ‘n manier gevind vir die tydaandeel om opbetaal te word, en ook die kredietkaart! Is dit nie wonderlik om die bruid van so ‘n ryk Man te wees nie?!  

Since the beginning of this book I have shared four testimonies with you (this being the fifth), but within each testimony are testimonies. When I took all the debt, the question was why? I am sure there are so many reasons that will appear over the course of my lifetime, but here is just one. Because of my willingness to take the debt, it led to the place of my being able to give something outstanding to my son and my soon-to-be new daughter. This may not mean a lot to you, but I have never been in the position of giving to my children, and now I am thrilled beyond words!

Vanaf die begin van hierdie boek het ek vier getuienisse met jou gedeel (dit is die vyfde), maar binne elke getuienis is getuienisse. Toe ek al die skuld oorgeneem het, was die vraag waarom? Ek is seker daar is so baie redes wat oor die koers van my leeftyd sal voorkom, maar hier is net een. As gevolg van my gewilligheid om die skuld oor te neem, het dit tot die plek gelei om iets besonders vir my seun en my toekomstige nuwe skoondogter te doen. Dit mag nie baie vir jou beteken nie, maar ek was nog nooit in ‘n posisie om vir my kinders te gee nie, en nou is ek bo alle woorde verheug!

Ladies, when I realized what I had to give, I wanted to pick up the phone right then and call them back to tell them the awesome news!! Yet, I knew that to call would mean butting into what was going on up there, so thankfully the Lord has taught me the blessings of waiting. I told the Lord to orchestrate when I was to tell them.

Dames, toe ek besef het wat ek gehad het om te gee, wou ek die telefoon dadelik optel en hulle terug skakel met die wonderlike nuus!! Tog, ek het geweet dat om te skakel sou beteken dat ek sou inmeng met wat daar bo aan die gang was, so dankbaar dat die Here my die seëninge van wag geleer het. Ek het vir die Here gesê om te orkestreer wanneer ek hulle moes vertel.

The opportunity came the next day when my soon-to-be daughter called. I began by asking her if they had made any plans for their honeymoon, and she responded by telling me that they agreed that they could only afford to go to a local vacation village about twenty minutes south of where they lived. And certainly not the honeymoon capital of the world! That’s when He led me to share my excitement—I wanted to send them on a week anywhere they would like to go! I had the flying miles to just about anywhere, and at a crown level resort for an entire week!

Die geleentheid het die volgende dag gekom toe my toekomstige skoondogter my geskakel het. Ek het begin deur haar te vra of hulle enige planne gemaak het vir hulle wittebrood, en sy het reageer deur te sê dat hulle dit net kon bekostig om na ‘n plaaslike vakansie dorpie omtrent twintig minute suid van waar hulle gebly het te gaan. En sekerlik nie die wittebrood hoofstad van die wêreld nie! Dit was toe dat Hy my gelei het om my opwinding te deel—ek wou hulle vir ‘n week na enige plek waar hulle daarvan sou hou om te gaan stuur! Ek het die vliegmyle gehad om omtrent enige plek toe te gaan, en by ‘n kroonvlak vakansieoord vir ‘n hele week!

Even now I just have to cry. Here I am in total financial ruin and without my even realizing it, the Lord had graciously run ahead of me and set this whole thing up!!

Selfs nou wil ek net huil. Hier is ek in totale finansiële ondergang en sonder dat ek dit eers besef het, het die Here genadiglik voor my uitgehardloop en die hele ding opgestel!!

In total disbelief, she asked where they could go, to which I replied, “Wherever! Hawaii, the Caribbean, wherever you two want to go!” Right away she said Hawaii and my son agreed (oh, bless his heart, he has been listening).

In totale ongeloof, het sy gevra waar hulle kon gaan, ek het geantwoord, “Waarookal! Hawaii, die Karabies, waarookal julle twee wil gaan!” Dadelik het sy gesê Hawaii en my seun het ingestem (o, seën sy hart, hy was besig om te luister).

Yet, ladies, you know that the enemy is going to try to steal that joy, don’t you? Here is how he tried with me.

Tog, dames, jy weet die vyand gaan probeer om daardie vreugde te steel, nê? Hier is hoe hy met my probeer het.

The next morning he put a terrifying thought in my mind, and then showed it to me—I was short flying miles. Immediately I remembered that I had “turned the other cheek, walked the second mile, giving my coat” with a previous honeymoon I’d given to my ex for him to go to Hawaii and the enemy said, “You fool, now you can’t bless your own son!!! You went ahead and gave it away to your unfaithful husband. What a fool!” With this, I ran to the Lord (in my heart and mind), to which He calmed the seas, and said, “Darling, you have the flying miles. Do you think for one minute that I would let you down? Go to your office and look, it’s not on this card, it’s on the other.”

Die volgende oggend het hy ‘n verskriklike gedagte in my kop gesit, en dit toe vir my gewys—ek het ‘n tekort aan vliegmyle gehad. Onmiddellik het ek onthou dat ek “die ander wang gedraai het, die tweede myl geloop het, en my bokleed gegee het” met ‘n vorige wittebrood wat ek vir my eks gegee het vir hom om Hawaii toe te gaan en die vyand het gesê, “Jou dwaas, nou kan jy nie jou eie seun seën nie!!! Jy het gegaan en dit weggegee vir jou ontroue man. Wat ‘n dwaas!” Met dit, het ek na die Here toe gehardloop (in my hart en verstand), waarna Hy die see gekalmeer het, en gesê het, “Liefling, jy het die vliegmyle. Dink jy vir een oomblik dat ek jou sal teleurstel? Gaan na jou kantoor toe en kyk, dit is nie op hierdie kaart nie, dit is op die ander kaart.”

Sure enough, when I went into the files there it was—enough flying miles to get them both to Hawaii and back! That’s when the fun began!! With my generous gift offered, soon the talk turned from their honeymoon that I was going to bless them with and them also wanting to get my opinion about everything having to do with their wedding!! The feelings of jealousy for them being with his dad and new wife—turned to joy unspeakable and full, I mean, full of His glory!!

Seker genoeg, toe ek in die leêrs ingaan was dit daar—genoeg vliegmyle om hulle albei Hawaii toe te kry en terug! Dit is toe dat die pret begin het!! Met my ruimhartige geskenk geoffer, het die praatjies gou verander van die wittebrood waarmee ek hulle wou seën en hulle wat ook my mening wou hê na omtrent alles wat met hulle troue te doen gehad het!!Die gevoelens van jaloesie vir hulle wat saam met hulle pa en sy nuwe vrou was—het tot onbeskryflike vreugde verander, ek bedoel, vol van Sy glorie!!

There’s more, the news resulted in a very generous counter financial gift from his dad, which proves even more what I have been telling my children over and over again. Not only will my children “not” be destroyed by the divorce, but—God has promised them double for this injustice!! How wonderful, how marvellous is my Savior!

Daar is nog, die nuus het die uitwerking van ‘n baie ruimhartige finansiële geskenk van sy pa af gehad, wat selfs meer bewys wat ek oor en oor sê. Nie net sal my kinders ‘nie” vernietig word deur die egskeiding nie, maar God het hulle dubbel vir hierdie onreg belowe!! Hoe wonderlik, hoe wonderbaarlik is my Redder!

“Instead of your shame you will have a double portion, and instead of humiliation they will shout for joy over their portion. Therefore they will possess a double portion in their land, everlasting joy will be theirs” (Isaiah 61:7). I heard later that my ex-husband’s new wife would not be “outdone” so it was she who offered the sizable financial gift from her account. Isn’t that just too wonderful for words?!?!

“In plaas van vernedering sal julle twee keer soveel besttings hê as tevore, in plaas van minagting sal julle lof ontvang oor wat julle besit. Julle sal in julle land twee keer soveel besit as tevore en julle sal altyd vreugde hê. Ek het later gehoor dat my eks-man se nuwe vrou nie oortref wou word nie so dit was sy wat die aansienlike finansiële geskenk uit haar rekening geoffer het. Is dit nie te wonderlik vir woorde nie?!?!

Back to the honeymoon: I know this is getting long, but each detail is a testimony in itself, and if you are like me, you love to hear it all—“Don’t sum it up—tell me everything!!”

Terug na die wittebrood: Ek weet dit raak lank, maar elke besonderheid is ‘n getuienis opsig self, en as jy soos ek is, wil jy alles hoor—Moet dit nie opsom nie—vertel my alles!!”

The moment they got home, the first thing they did was to sit down with me while I called to make the arrangements for the resort. Oh, I wish I had more time, but here is the best part of it. When I called, they said that to ask for a resort in Hawaii during a red week, and because it was just three months away, was “ridiculous.” To which I kept replying “I don’t understand.”

Die oomblik wat hulle by die huis gekom het, die eerste ding wat hulle gedoen het was om vir ‘n rukkie by my te sit terwyl ek geskakel het om die reëlings vir die vakansieoord te tref. o, ek wens ek het meer tyd gehad, maar hier is die beste deel daarvan. Toe ek geskakel het, het hulle gesê dat ek moet vra vir ‘n vakansieplek in Hawaï gedurede ‘n rooi week, en omdat dit net drie maande weg was, was dit belaglik.” Waarop ek die heeltyd geantwoord het “ek verstaan nie.”

At first, I really didn’t understand the way she was explaining it, but then I did understand what she was saying. She was saying “You’re foolish to even ask; it’s impossible.” Yet when I sought the Lord as she was telling me the same thing over and over, He just kept telling me to hang in there, don’t give up, just keep asking. So I did.

In die begin, het ek regtig nie die manier wat sy dit verduidelik ht verstaan nie, maar toe verstaan ek wat sy besig was om te sê “Jy is ‘n dwaas om selfs te vra; dit is onmoontlik.” Tog toe ek die Here uitsoek soos wat sy my dieselfde ding oor en oor vertel, het Hy net aangehou om my te vertel om aan te hou, nie op te gee nie, en om aanhou te vra. So ek het.

Finally, exasperated with me, she asked me to hold on. There was no music so I figured that she had hung up on me; it’s happened before, lots of times, so I thought I should hang up and try again, but the Lord said, “Just wait.” Finally, she got back on and said that she found something that I could exchange—the first miracle.

Uiteindelik, vererg met my, het sy my gevra om aan te hou. Daar was geen musiek nie so ek het gedink dat sy die telefoon neer gesit het; dit het al voorheen gebeur, baie keer, so ek het gedink dat ek die telefoon moet neersit en weer probeer, maar die Here het gesê, “Wag net.” Uiteindelik, het sy terug gekom en gesê dat sy iets gevind het wat ek kon uitruil—die eerste wonderwerk.

Next, I had to contact another company to find an exchange. Once again, the man kept telling me of the impossibility, but I am a personal friend with the One who does the impossible. In fact, I became His bride on July 1, 2005!

Volgende, moes ek ‘n ander maatskappy skakel vir die uitruiling. Weereens, het die man my aanhoudend vertel van die onmoontlikheid, maar ek is ‘n persoonlike vriend van die Een wat die onmoontlike doen. Feit is ek het sy bruid op 1 Julie 2005 geword!

In total shock the man said, “Hey, wait a minute. Here is something.” On the exact island where they wanted to spend their honeymoon, AND in a one-bedroom unit (not a studio) that I had asked for, there was one that was available on the exact day I asked!!

In totale skok het die man gesê, “Hey, wag ‘n minuut. Hier is iets.” Op dieselfde eiland waar hulle hulle wittebrood wou spandeer, EN in ‘n eenslaapkamer eenheid (nie ‘n studio) waarvoor ek gevra het nie, was daar een beskikbaar op die einste dag waarvoor ek gevra het!!

Though we knew it was a miracle, God even used this man who was in Mexico City to tell us that it just “doesn’t happen—this kind of thing just doesn’t happen” to which I was able to happily reply “It does when you trust God, as a matter of fact, it happens all the time!” Though you and I know and experience this kind of thing happening all the time, I just never want to get used to it! I want it to keep me in total awe and completely in love with the One whom I owe everything!

Alhoewel ons geweet het dat dit ‘n wonderwerk was, God het selfs hierdie man wat in Meksiko Stad  was gebruik om ons te vertel dat dit “nie net gebeur nie—hierdie soort ding gebeur net nie” en ek het bly geantwoord “Dit doen wanneer jy op God vertrou, om die waarheid te sê, dit gebeur al die tyd!” Alhoewel jy en ek weet en ervaar hoe hierdie ding die heeltyd gebeur, wil ek net nooit daaraan gewoond raak nie! Ek wil hê dit moet my in totale ontsag en heeltemal verlief op die Een aan wie ek alles verskuldig is hou.

Though we are right in the midst of this entire testimony (for there is still more to come), let me end with this that just thrills me!!

Alhoewel ons in die middel is van hierdie hele getuienis (want daar is nog om te kom), laat my eindig met dit wat my net ontroer!!

The cost of this incredible miracle is more, yes more than the entire wedding is going to cost!! Is that God or what?? Here I am, in “apparent” and utter ruin, and yet (because of my Husband going before me) I am able to bless this young couple with the honeymoon of their dreams!

Die koste van hierdie ongelooflike wonderwerk is meer, ja meer as wat die hele troue gaan kos!! Is dit God of wat?? Hier is ek, in oënskynlike en totale verderf, en tog (as gevolg van my Man wat voor my uitgaan) is ek in staat om hierdie jong paartjie te seën met die wittebrood van hulle drome!

And as I said earlier, the enemy keeps trying to steal my joy. Just a day later my oldest son casually mentioned that he was going to marry this year, to which the enemy bombarded my mind with, “See, you fool, now you don’t have enough flying miles for your oldest son; the son that helped you the most” and on and on the enemy goes.

Soos wat ek vroeër gesê het, die vyand hou aan om my vreugde te steel. net ‘n dag later het my oudste seun toevallig genoem dat hy hierdie jaar gaan trou, toe bombadeer die vyand my met, “Sien, jou dwaas, nou het jy nie genoeg vliegmyle vir jou oudste seun nie, die seun wat jou die meeste gehelp het” en aan en aan gaan die vyand.

But you know what? I know that God has that all worked out too. The only thing I need to do is resist falling into the Poverty Mentality that says “I won’t or don’t have enough” when God has promised to provide all of our needs, that He longs to be gracious to us, and that He will give us the desires of our hearts when we delight ourselves in HIM.

Maar jy weet wat” Ek weet dat God dit ook alles uitgewerk het. Die enigste ding wat ek nodig het om te doen is om te weerstaan om in die Armoede Mentaliteit te val wat sê “ek kan nie of het nie genoeg nie” wanneer God belowe het om in al ons behoeftes te voorsien, dat Hy gretig is om ons genadig te wees, en dat Hy ons die begeertes van ons harte sal gee wanneer ons ons in HOM verheug.

If you’re in the midst of being hopelessly in need of Him—you’re in a perfect place for a miracle. Don’t waste your time trying to figure out how, or miss one second of the joy that God has waiting just for you when you trust Him with your finances. Believe that you are rich even when your bank accounts say otherwise—this is that faith that is hoped for but is presently unseen.

As jy in die middel is om hopeloos behoeftig aan Hom te wees—is jy in die perfekte plek vir ‘n wonderwerk. Moet nie jou tyd mors om uit te pluis hoe, of een sekonde van die vreugde te mis wat God het wat vir jou wag wanneer jy op Hom vertrou met jou finansies. Glo dat jy ryk is selfs wanneer jou bank rekening andersins sê—dit is daardie geloof waarvoor gehoop word maar huidig ongesiens is.