Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice”

—1 Samuel 15:22

 

“Gehoorsaamheid is beter as offerande”

—1 Samuel 15:22

 

“Samuel said, ‘Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams’” (1 Samuel 15:22).

“Maar Samuel antwoord, “Is brandoffers en ander diereoffers net so aanneemlik vir die HERE as gehoorsaamheid aan sy bevel? Nee, gehoorsaamheid is beter as offerande, om te luister is beter as die vet van ramme”’ (1 Samuel 15:22).

“Because you have burned sacrifices and have sinned against the LORD and not obeyed the voice of the LORD or walked in His law, His statutes or His testimonies, therefore this calamity has befallen you, as it has this day” (Jeremiah 44:23).

“Dit is omdat julle die wierookoffers gebring het en teen die HERE gesondig het, omdat julle ongehoorsaam was aan die Here en nie geleef het volgens sy wet, sy voorskrifte en sy verordeninge nie, dat die ramp julle getref het soos dit vandag is!” (Jeremia 44:23)

There is a lot to learn from the mistakes of others; especially beneficial is learning from the mistakes we make ourselves.

Daar is baie om te leer uit die foute van ander; spesiaal voordelig is om te leer uit die foute wat ons self maak.

Just recently I was blessed when I got an email from my oldest son about a financial crisis that had happened to him. He emailed me because he wanted some wisdom about what to do. Yes, I was honored, but before getting puffed up I had to first laugh because what a joke it is that he had asked me—due to my present situation. Nevertheless, I was honored and sought the Lord for what wisdom He wanted me to share with my son.

Net onlangs was ek geseĂ«n toe ek ‘n epos van my oudste seun oor ‘n finansiĂ«le krisis wat met hom gebeur het ontvang het . Hy het vir my ‘n epos gestuur omdat hy wysheid wou hĂȘ oor wat om te doen. Ja, ek was geeer, maar voordat ek myself ophemel moes ek eers lag omdat dit ‘n grap is dat hy my gevra het—as gevolg van my huidige situasie. Nietemin, ek was geeer en het die Here opgesoek vir die wyheid wat Hy wou ghad het ek met my seun moes deel.

One of the first things my son thought he should do (and told me, so I wouldn’t be surprised) was to sell his very beautiful car. If you are one of RMI’s fellowship members, then you may remember I shared in a praise report about the car that the Lord blessed him with just a little over a year ago. Both of my sons were blessed with new cars (that they had each been praying for) that came in the Lord’s normal fashion, a crisis, when for three months in a row (mine was the third) there was a car accident (none were our fault) that resulted in my sons’ cars being “totalled,” which led to new cars for each of them (mine resulted in damage to me only, leading me to minister to a recent widow and her son). By far the most severe accident was my oldest son’s, which everyone said looked worse than most fatal car wrecks!

Een van die eerste dinge wat my seun gedink het hy moes doen (en het vir my vertel, sodat ek nie verras sou wees nie) was om sy pragtige motor te verkoop. As jy een van HMI se bediening lidmate is, dan sal jy dalk onthou dat ek in ‘n lofverslag gedeel het oor ‘n motor waarmee die Here hom geseĂ«n het net ‘n bietjie meer as ‘n jaar gelede. Beide my seuns was met nuwe motors geseĂ«n (waarvoor hulle gebid het) wat op die Here se normale manier gekom het, ‘n krisis, toe vir drie maande in ‘n ry (myne was die derde) was daar ‘n motorongeluk (nie een was ons skuld nie) wat veroorsaak het dat ons motors “afgekryf,” is wat gelei het na nuwe motors vir elkeen van hulle (myne het net skade vr my veroorsaak, wat gelei het dat ek vir ‘n nuwe weduwee en haar seun gepreek het). By vĂȘr die mees ernstige ongeluk was my oudste seun sin, wat almal gesĂȘ het het erger gelyk as meeste dodelike motor wrakke! 

Due to these accidents, we all witnessed God’s mercy, His love, and His way of doing things in a new and amazing way: the cars that each of my sons got were proportionate to the accident that happened. My oldest son was blessed with a car of his dreams that cost him half of what it was worth. This was due to an “error” at the car dealership that they said was “too late” to change and so they said he was extremely “lucky”—he’s blessed.

As gevolg van hierdie ongelukke, het ons almal op ‘n nuwe en ongelooflike manier van God se genade getuig, Sy liefde, en Sy manier van dinge doen: die motors wat elkeen van my seuns gekry het was in verhouding met die ongeluk wat gebeur het. My oudste seun was geseĂ«n met ‘n motor van sy drome wat hom die helfte gekos het as wat dit werd was. Dit was as gevolg van ‘n “fout” by die motor handelaar wat hulle gesĂȘ het te laat was om te verander en toe sĂȘ hulle dat hy uiters “gelukkig” was—hy is geseĂ«n.

When my son told me that selling his car was what he planned to do to help with his financial crisis, I told him that I doubted that this is what God was telling him to do. Instead, we discussed some of God’s principles—one of the most important being that God wants our obedience rather than our sacrifice. 

Toe my seun vir my verel dat hy beplan om sy motor te verkoop om hom met sy finansiĂ«le krisis te help, het ek vir hom gesĂȘ dat ek twyfel dat dit is wat God hom sĂȘ om te doen. In plaas daarvan, het ons sommige van God se beginsels bespreek—een van die belangrikste is dat God ons gehoorsaamheid eerder as ons offerande wil hĂȘ.

There’s no doubt it would be a sacrifice to sell his car, and that his sacrifice would not impress God. How often have we tried to do something to make things right, only to find that we are in the same or a worse situation?

Daar is geen twyfel dat dit ‘n offerande sou wees om sy motor te verkoop nie, en dat hierdie offerande nie God sou beindruk nie. Hoe dikwels het ons probeer om dinge reg te maak, net om te vind dat ons in dieselfde of  ‘n erger situasie is?

What kind of obedience was I talking about? Instead of sacrificing, learning to obey God’s principles in regard to his dilemma, in other words, what does God say in His Word regarding our money? Here are just a few principles I shared with my son:

Watter soort gehoorsaamheid is dit waarvan ons praat? In plaas daarvan om te offer, leer om God se beginsels betreffende hierdie dilemma te gehoorsaam, met ander woorde, was sĂȘ God in Sy Woord betreffende ons geld? Hier is net ‘n paar beginsels wat ek met my seun gedeel het:

Tithing: never steal from God. God asks us to give Him back 10% of what He gives us, and depending if you want to be blessed on your gross or net, tithe on that. Make sure, too, that you tithe to your storehouse, where you’re spiritually fed.

Tiendes: moet nooit van God steel nie. God vra dat jy vir Hom 10% teruggee van wat Hy ons gee, en afhangende of jy uit jou bruto inkomste geseën wil word of jou bruto netto, gee jou tiende daarop. Maak ook seker, dat jy aan jou voorradkamer jou tiende gee, waar jy spiritueel gevoed word. 

I confessed to my son that the moment I took over the finances in our family and ministry, I realized that I gave a larger tip of 20% when I went out to eat than I gave to Him! I told him from that moment on, I began giving that much to God because I wanted God to know that He means more to me that a server at a restaurant or the lady who does my nails. That is not sacrifice to do so; this is actually when we are mature enough to begin to give Him offerings.

Ek het by my seun gebieg dat die oomblik wat ek die fiansies in ons familie en bediening oorgeneem het, ek besef het dat ek ‘n groter fooitjie van 20% gee wanneer ons gaan uiteet as wat ek vir Hom gee! Ek het vir Hom gesĂȘ dat van daardie oomblik af, ek begin het om net soveel vir God te gee omdat ek wou gehad het dat God moet weet dat Hy meer vir my beteken as die bediener by ‘n restaurant of die dame wat naels doen. Dit is nie offerande om dit te doen nie; dit is eintlik wanneer ons volwasse genoeg is om te begin om Hom offerande te gee.

“Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed Thee?’ In tithes AND offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you!” (Malachi 3:8–9). So, I encouraged my son to ask God where to give a 10% offering just as He’d been faithful to show me.

“Sal 'n mens werklik vir God beroof? Tog beroof julle My. Julle vra: “Waarvan beroof ons U?” Van tiendes EN offergawes. Daar rus alreeds 'n vloek op julle en tog bly julle My beroof; die hele nasie doen dit!” (Maleagi 3:8-9). So toe moedig ek my seun aan om God te vra waar om ‘n 10% offerande te gee net soos wat Hy getrou was om vir my te wys.

Now let me quote from one of Erin’s books, in it, she says:

Laat my nou iets uit een van Erin se boeke aanhaal, in dit, sĂȘ sy: 

Laws of Creation: you must understand and obey the Laws of Creation. God set the entire universe into motion with physical laws like gravity, and spiritual laws like tithing. When you find that you have a lack of funds, that’s when you need to look at your life to see if you have violated any of those laws. If you fail to give to the storehouse, where you are spiritually fed, then God can’t rebuke the devourer because we failed to obey His laws.

Skeppingswette: jy moet die keppingswette verstaan en gehoorsaam. God het die hele heelal in beweging gebring met fisiese wette soos swaartekrag, en geestelike wette soos tiendes. Wanneer jy vind dat jy ‘n tekort aan fondse het, dit is wanneer jy na jou lewe moet kyk om te sien of jy enige een van hierdie wette geskend het. As jy misluk om aan die voorraadkamer te gee, waar jy geestelik gevoed word, dan kan God nie die verslinder bestraf nie. 

“‘Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘if I will not open for you the windows of heaven, and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows. Then I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it may not destroy the fruits of the ground; nor will your vine in the field cast its grapes,’ says the Lord of hosts” (Malachi 3:10–11).

“‘Bring die volle tiende na die voorraadkamer toe sodat daar iets te ete in my huis kan wees, en toets My hierin, sĂȘ die Here die Almagtige. Toets My of Ek nie die vensters van die hemel vir julle sal oopmaak en vir julle reĂ«n sal uitgiet, meer as wat julle kan gebruik nie. Ek sal die sprinkane keer dat hulle nie die oes op julle land vernietig nie, en dat julle wingerde nie sonder vrugte is nie, sĂȘ die Here die Almagtige” (Maleagi 3:10-11).

The devourer is running havoc in many Christians’ lives as they watch their homes and lives fall apart. Their car or appliances are breaking and so are their relationships. If you try to keep fixing things in your life, without realizing where the root of the problems lay, the problems will continue. By simply following this basic rule of tithing to your storehouse and then growing spiritually so you then can begin giving above your tithe of 10% (giving at least as much as we tip those who serve us), you will save yourself hours of worry and you will have turned your life from a life of trials to a life of blessings—until your blessings overflow!

Die verslinder veroorsaak gaos in baie Christene se lewens soos wat hulle toekyk hoe hulle huise en lewens uitmekaar val. Hulle  motors of toestelle breek en so ook hulle verhoudings. As jy probeer om dinge in jou lewe reg te maak, sonder om te besef wat die wortel van die probleme lĂȘ, sal die probleme voortgaan. Deur eenvoudig die basiese reĂ«l om ‘n tiende aan jou voorraadkamer te gee en dan geestelik te groei sodat jy kan begin om bo jou 10% te gee (en te gee soveel as wat ons vir die gee wat ons bedien), sal jy jouself ure van bekommernis spaar en sal jou lewe van ‘n lewe van beproewings na ‘n lewe van seĂ«ninge verander—totdat jou seĂ«ninge oorvloei!

Give and it shall be given. This is by far, especially lately, one of my most favorite principles. Wow, get a hold of this one and your life will immediately be one of abundance! “Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return” (Luke 6:38). Rather than give, especially when we are in need, we withhold and come to more lack in our lives. It doesn’t just mean giving financially, but in every area of our lives: relationships, friendships, patience, and love. Most women care more about these emotionally based needs, except, that is when we find ourselves in need of money—then our lack of money begins to take center stage.

Gee en vir jou sal gegee word. Dit is by ver, spesiaal onlangs, een van my mees gunsteling beginsels. Wow, kry hierdie een beet en jou lewe sal onmiddellik een van oorvloed wees! “Gee, en vir julle sal gegee word: 'n goeie maat, ingestamp, geskud en propvol, sal hulle in julle hande gee. Met die maat waarmee julle meet, sal ook vir julle gemeet word.” (Lukas 6:38). Eerder as om te gee, spesiaal wanner on behoeftig is, weerhou ons en dit veroorsaak meer tekort in ons lewens. Dit beteken nie net om finansieĂ«l te gee nie, maar in elke area van ons lewens: verhoudings, vriendskappe, geduld, en liefde. Meeste vrouens gee meer om oor hierdie emosioneel gebaseerde behoeftes, behalwe, dit is wanneer ons onsself behoeftig vind vir geld—dan word kry ons tekort aan geld die meeste aandag.

“There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more, and there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in want. The generous man will be prosperous, and he who waters will himself be watered” (Proverbs 11:24–25).

“Daar is mense wat vrylik uitdeel en tog steeds meer het, daar is ander wat suinig is en tog arm word. Wie 'n ander voorspoed gun, sal self oorvloed hĂȘ. Wie die dors van ander les, sal self genoeg kry as hy dors is” (Spreuke 11:24-25).

Storehouse sits empty. Because most Christians are ignorant of God’s principles they unknowingly violate the laws of God to their own destruction. In Hosea 4:6 it says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge
” One of the main focuses of many churches and many Christians, when they speak, is that of fighting with the devil, when in fact, the One whom they are fighting is actually the Lord of hosts.

Voorraadkamers sit leeg. Omdat meeste Christene onkundig is oor God se beginsels oortree hulle onwetend die wette van God tot hulle eie verwoesting. In Hosea 4:6 sĂȘ dit My volk gaan onder omdat hulle nie aan My toegewy is nie. Omdat jy die wil van jou God verontagsaam het
” Een van die hoof fokusse van baie kerke en baie Christene, wanneer hulle praat, is om met die duiwel te baklei, wanneer die feit is, die Een teen wie hulle veg eintlik die Here die Almagtige is.

“‘You look for much, but behold, it comes to little; when you bring it home, I blow it away. Why?’ declares the Lord of hosts, ‘Because of My house which lies desolate, while each of you runs to his own house’” (Haggai 1:9).

“‘Julle het 'n groot oes verwag, maar min gekry, en wat julle nog huis toe gebring het, het Ek laat verdwyn. Waarom? vra die Here die Almagtige. Omdat my huis in puin lĂȘ, terwyl elkeen van julle hard besig is om aan sy eie huis te werk”’ (Haggai 1:9).

Let me share something a bit sad. There are only a handful of women who keep RMI going, I know because I’ve helped with the bookkeeping. Only a very few women tithe so that everyone else can have spiritual food, and just about none of the men. In addition, only a handful of ladies, who, by the way, are the same ones who sow their tithe, also give their time and energy as volunteers. AND these are the very same women are who also the same who submit the most praise reports. Any correlation?

Laat my iets wat ‘n bietjie hartseer is deel. Daar is net ‘n handjievol vrouens wat HMI aan die gang hou, ek weet omdat ek met die boekhou gehelp het. Net ‘n paar vrouens gee ‘n tiende sodat almal geestelike kos kan hĂȘ, en is per slot van sake, dieselfdes wie hulle tiendes saai, en ook hulle tyd en energie as vrywilligers gee. EN dieselfde vrouens is ook dieselfe wie die meeste lofverslae indien. Is daar enige korrelasie?

Of course! These women are the ones whom the Lord blesses the most because each and every one of His principles works! The men have just about no restored marriages, very little praise, and it’s simply because our society of women has become the only partner in the relationship who give to it!

Natuurlik! Hierdie vrouens is die enes wie die Here die meeste seën omdat  ieder en elke een van Sy beginsels werk! Die mans het omtrent geen herstelde huwelike nie, baie min lof, en dit is eenvoudig omdat ons samelewing van vrouens die enigste vennoot in die verhouding is wat daarvoor gee!

Also, what’s extremely important is that if you are not giving to your storehouse, which most often is RMI, then you are not battling with the enemy, but with the Lord of hosts. We do hear often that our men tithe to their church, even though RMI is feeding them, and this is another confirmation that God does care where you tithe. The offering is where you can give somewhere else, like giving an offering to your church if that’s where He leads you. Just make no mistake, God does care about the details and the only person you’re fooling is yourself and deceiving those who are watching your life.

Ook, wat uiters belangrik is as jy nie vir jou voorraadkamer gee nie, wat meer dikwels HMI is, dan baklei jy nie met die vyand nie, maar met die Here die Almagtige. Ons hoor dikwels dat ons mans tiendes gee aan hulle kerk, alhoewel HMI hulle voed, en dit is nog ‘n bevestiging dat God omgee waar jy jou tiendes gee. Die offerande is waar jy ĂȘrens ander kan gee, soos ‘n offerande vir ‘n kerk as dit is waar Hy jou lei. Moet net nie ‘n fout maak nie, God gee om oor die besonderhede en die enigste persoon wie jy flous is jouself en jy bedrieg die wat jou lewe dophou.

Second Corinthians 3:2 NASB, “You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men.” If you profess to be a Christian, His follower, but your life is riddled with lack and loss, then what everyone is learning about God and being a believer, is that it’s better not to be.

Tweede KorintiĂ«rs 3:2 Afr 83, “Julle is self ons aanbevelingsbrief, geskryf op ons harte, vir almal om te lees en te verstaan.” As jy bely dat jy ‘n Christen is, Sy volgeling, maar jou lewe is vrot met tekort en verlies, dan wat almal oor God leer en om ‘n gelowige te wees, is dat dit beter is om nie een te wees nie.

Yet, when you learn that to give is more blessed, and you begin to practice this principle in every area of your life, then your life becomes abundant! That’s the way the entire universe was set up. And this is what everyone will also be a witness to. If, however, you continue to take or withhold, and that is your focus, then I can say without even knowing you that you are miserable and in constant need—in all areas of your life. And that may explain why none of your loved ones want to know more about the One who you want them to know.

Tog, wanneer jy leer dat om te gee meer geseĂ«nd is, en jy begin om hierdie beginsels in elke area van jou lewe uit te oefen, dan word jou lewe oorvloedig! Dit is hoe die hele heelal opgestel was. En dit is waarvan almal van sal getuig. As jy, nietemin, voort gaan om te vat of weerhou, en dit is jou fokus, dan kan ek sĂȘ sonder om jou eens te ken dat jy misluk is en in altyd behoeftig—in al die areas van jou lewe. En dit mag veduidelik waarom nie een van jou bemindes nie meer wil weet van die Een wie jy wil hĂȘ hulle moet van weet nie.

Power to make wealth. When we are lacking funds, rather than checking to see if we have violated a spiritual law, we instead do as the non-believer does, we try to think of ways we can “earn” more. This is also due to ignorance because God says, “It is vain for you to rise up early, to retire late, to eat the bread of painful labors; for He gives to His beloved even in his sleep” (Psalm 127:2).

Krag om rykdom te maak. Wanneer ons ‘n tekort aan fondse het, eerder as om te kyk en te sien of ons ‘n geestelike wet oortree het, doen ons eerder soos die ongelowiges, ons probeer aan maniere dink waar ons meer kan “verdien”. Dit is ook as gevolg van onkunde omdat God sĂȘ, “Tevergeefs dat julle vroeg opstaan en laat gaan slaap om met moeite 'n bestaan te maak. Vir diĂ© wat Hy liefhet, gee die Here dit in hulle slaap” (Psalms 127:2).

Why? “Otherwise, you may say in your heart, ‘My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth.’ But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make   wealth . . .” (Deuteronomy 8:17–18). Working hard only makes you tired, but it rarely helps you to get ahead of your debt. It is only when we look to the Lord, in all areas of our lives, that we find a “yoke that is easy and that burden that is pleasantly light”! (Matthew 11:29).

Waarom? “Jy kan dalk dink; my krag en my sterk hande het vir my hierdie rykdom verwerf. Maar jy moet die Here jou God nie vergeeet nie, want dit is Hy wat jou die krag gee om die rykdom te verwerf
” (Deuteronomium 8:17-18). Om hard te werk maak jou net moeg, maar dit sal jou skaars help om met skuld by te bly. Dit is net wanneer ons na die Here kyk, op al die gebiede van ons lewens, dat ons vind dat sy “ juk is sag en my las is lig” (Matteus 11:29).

Stop worrying. “And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life’s span? If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about other matters? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You [wo]men of little faith!” (Luke 12:25-28).

Hou op om jou te bekommer.Trouens, wie van julle kan deur hom te bekommer sy lewe met een uur verleng? As julle nie eens so 'n klein dingetjie kan regkry nie, waarom bekommer julle julle oor die ander dinge? “Kyk hoe groei die lelies: hulle swoeg nie en hulle maak nie klere nie, maar Ek sĂȘ vir julle: Selfs Salomo in al sy prag was nie geklee soos een van hulle nie. As God die gras van die veld, wat vandag nog daar is en mĂŽre in die vuur gegooi word, sĂł mooi maak, hoeveel te meer sal Hy julle versorg, julle kleingelowiges!” (Lukas 12:25-28).

Just recently I have found that I have fallen into a very bad habit of believing that I cannot “afford” something if it isn’t priced outrageously cheap. This is due to the fact that God has anointed my spending power when I shop for anything! I am known to get the most unbelievable bargains, and not because I am a bargain shopper (that a young man accused me of). Instead, when I need something the Lord always leads me to a particular store, and once in the store, I ask Him what He wants to show me. Simple enough.

Net onlangs het ek uitgevind dat ek in ‘n baie slegte gewoonte van ek kan nie iets “bekostig” geval het as dit nie verregaande goedkoop is nie. Dit is as gevolg van die feit dat God my spandeer krag gesalf het wanneer ek enigiets aankoop! Ek is bekend daarvoor om die mees ongelooflike winskopies te kry, en nie omdat ek ‘n winskopie inkoper is nie (waarvan ‘n jong man my beskuldig het). In plaas darvan, wanneer ek iets nodig het lei die Here my na ‘n spesifieke winkel, en sodra ek in die winkel is, vra ek Hom wat Hy my wil wys. Eenvoudig genoeg.

The fact that I continually get something, often for less than it costs the store, caused me to think inaccurately—I began to think “cheap” was all I could “afford.” What I came to realize is that God does not want us to believe we can only “afford” something that is greatly discounted, but instead, this is how we can confirm what He wants us to purchase. Do you see that it’s the heart that’s different? Here are a couple of examples of when I got it right.

Die feit dat ek aanhoudend iets kry, dikwels vir minder as wat dit die winkel kos, het veroorsaak dat ek onakkuraat dink—ek het begin dink “goedkoop” was al wat ek kon “bekostig.” Toe ek besef het dat God nie wil hĂȘ ons moet glo dat ons net iets kan “bekostig” wat grootliks afgemerk is nie, maar in plaas daarvan, dit is hoe ons bevestig dat Hy wil hĂȘ dat ons dit moet aankoop. Sien jy dat dit die hart is wat anders is? Hier is ‘n paar voorbeelde van toe ek dit reg gekry het.

My daughters were asked to be in the upcoming wedding (that you read about in the last chapter; when my son got engaged). The youngest will be a junior bridesmaid, so the dress that the bride chose for her other bridesmaids would not fit her properly since she is a tween—not enough up top to fill it out. The bride told me she found a similar dress where she ordered her wedding dress, so it was discounted from $99 to $79.

My dogters was gevra om in die opkomende troue (waarvan jy in die laaste hoofstuk gelees het, toe my seun verloof geraak het) te wees. Die jongste sal ‘n junior strooimeisie wees, so die rok wat die bruid vir haar ander strooimeisie gekies het sal haar nie behoorlik pas nie omdat sy tussen ‘n tiener en ‘n dogtertjie is—nie genoeg bo om die rok in te vul nie. Die bruid het gesĂȘ dat sy ‘n soortgelyke rok gevind het waar sy haar trourok bestel het, so dit is van R1412 na R1127 afgemerk.   

Keep in mind that my finances are beyond crisis, so the enemy wants my emotions to result in panic; however, I know God’s principles, His love, and His longings. Therefore, I choose, daily, to keep my emotions in the framework of expectation rather than dread or fear. (Remember, I have daughters who need dresses and I am the mother of the groom!)

Hou in gedagte dat my finansies verby krisis is, so die vyand wil hĂȘ dat my emosies in paniek moet ontaard; nietemin, ek ken God se beginsels, Sy liefde, en Sy hunkerings. Daarom, kies ek , daagliks, om my emosies in die raamwerk van afwagting eerder as angs of vrees te hou. (Onthou, ek het dogters wat rokke nodig het en ek is die moeder van die bruidegom!) 

So, I told her that I believed that the Lord had something else in mind, not because it wasn’t affordable, but because she also added right at the end that it didn’t fit “all that well.” I assured her that if I hadn’t found something in a week’s time, I would run in and order the one she had found.

So, toe vertel ek haar dat ek glo dat die Here iets anders in gedagte het, nie omdat dit nie bekostigbaar was nie, maar omdat sy ook aan die einde bygevoeg het dat die “nie so mooi” gepas het nie, Ek het haar verseker dat as ek iets in ‘n week se tyd gevind het, ek sou inhardloop en die een wat sy gevind het sou bestel.

Ladies, because I could sense God wanted to do something, I didn’t even have to leave my home for Him to move, which was due to my faith and HIS love. A couple of days later the bride called me with excitement that she had found a better dress for half the price, then her cell phone died. An hour later my son called to tell me that she left there, went to another store and found the most perfect, and adorable dress for just $18. I never wondered if it would fit because I knew that God had gone before us and had that dress there just for my daughter. Sure enough, when she got home it fit beautifully!!

Dames, omdat ek kon aanvoel dat God iets wou doen, het ek nie eens nodig gehad om my huis te verlaat vir Hom om te beweeg nie, wat was as gevolg van my geloof en SY liefde. ‘n Paar dae later het die bruid my met opgewondenheid geskakel en gesĂȘ dat sy ‘n beter rok vir helfte van die prys gevind het, toe gaan haar selfoon dood. ‘n Uur later het my seun geskakel en gesĂȘ dat sy daar weg is, en na ‘n ander winkel toe gegaan het en die mees perfekte, en beminlike rok vir net R256 gevind het. Ek het nooit gewonder of dit sou pas nie omdat ek geweet het dat God voor ons uitgegaan het en daardie rok net vir my dogter daar gehad het. Seker genoeg, toe sy by die huis kom het dit perfek gepas!! 

That blessing turned to yet another blessing when I headed to the same two stores at the suggestion of the bride. At the first store, I found nothing but continued to ask the Lord where to go. He led me to the second store and immediately after walking in, I found the exact blouse that I had described to my daughters that I wanted to go with a skirt I had but had never worn. I purchased it for only $13.35, which was originally $190. The same scenario happened with my daughter’s shoes!

Die seĂ«n het in nog ‘n seĂ«n verander toe ek na dieselfde twee winkels toe gegaan het ter aanbeveling van die bruid. In die eerste winkel, het ek niks gevind nie maar ek het voort gegaan om die Here te vra waar om te gaan. Hy het my na die tweede winkel toe gelei en onmiddellik na ek ingeloop het, het ek die presiese bloes wat ek aan my dogters beskryf het wat ek wou gehad het om by ‘n romp te gaan wat ek nog nooit aangehad het nie gevind. Ek het dit vir R190,24 gekoop wat oorspronklik R2700 was. Dieselfde scenario het met my dogter se skoene gebeur! 

A week later the Lord laid on my heart to buy my oldest son’s “soon to be fiancĂ©â€ a winter coat. Please keep in mind that anyone looking at my finances would scold me and tell me to not even think about giving anyone a gift when I have no money. Nevertheless, when I walked into the store I spotted a shoe sale and told my daughter that we would find the shoes for the wedding there— after we bought the coat that I also knew was there. Sure enough, she did for just $20! Shoes originally sold for over a hundred dollars!

‘n Week later het die Here dit op my hart gelĂȘ om vir my oudste seun se “toekomstige verloofde” ‘n winterjas te koop. Hou asseblief in gedagte dat enigiemand wat na my finansies kyk my sal uitskel en vertel om nie eens daaraan te dink om vir enigiemad ‘n geskenk te gee wanneer ek niks geld het nie. Nietemin, toe ek in die winkel inloop het ek ‘n skoen uitverkoping gesien en vir my dogter gesĂȘ dat ons die skoene vir die troue daar sou vind—nadat ons die jas gekoop het wat ek ook geweet het daar was. Seker genoeg sy het vir net R285! Skoene wat gewoonlik verkoop word vir meer as R1400!  

Once again, this is not because of how I shop for bargains, but the heart that I have regarding shopping. I am not afraid to purchase something even in the depths of financial lows, but I don’t go out to test God either. I simply have the faith and live the principles that He set in motion. Living these principles creates abundance and overflowing, or violating them results in lack and disappointment.

Weerens, dit gaan nie oor hoe ek vir winskopies inkopies doen nie, maar die hart wat ek het wat inkopies aan betref. Ek is nie bang om iets te koop selfs in die dieptes van my finansiële laagtes nie, maar ek gaan ook nie uit om God te toets nie. Ek het eenvoudig die geloof en leef die beginsels wat Hy in beweging geplaas het uit. Deur hierdie beginsels uit te leef skep oorvloed en oorvloei, of om hulle te skend veroorsaak tekort en teleurstelling.

Begging bread. “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). Honestly, this prophet might witness something else if he were living today. We might not necessarily be begging “bread” but we do beg others to help us financially—I know because I was one of them when I went seeking a loan. (More on this in a later chapter since that testimony is currently being written in my life.)

Brood soek. “Ek was jonk en ek het oud geword, maar nooit het ek 'n regverdige verlate gesien of dat sy nageslag brood soek nie” (Psalms 37:25). Eerlikwaar, hierdie profeet mag van iets ander getuig as hy vandag gelewe het. Ons mag nie noodsaaklik vir brood smeek nie maar ons smeek ander om ons finansieĂ«l te help—ek weet want ek was een van hulle toe ek gegaan het om ‘n lening te soek. (Meer oor hierdie in ‘n later hoofstuk aangesien daardie getuienis huidig in my lewe geskryf word.)

Conclusion? After I shared these and a few other principles with my son, he shared that he was living most of them, but in regard to trying to earn, rather than simply giving as a source of being blessed, he said was something he always did but couldn’t do recently because he was trying to work harder to get some more money (something we all do). So, he said what he was going to do after he hung up was to ask the Lord where he needed to give, no longer focusing on making money and that he’d  selling his car.

Afsluiting? Nadat ek hierdie en ‘n paar ander beginsels met my seun gedeel het, het hy gedeel dat hy meeste van hulle uitleef, maar met bertrekking om te probeer verdien, eerder as om eenvoudig te gee as ‘n bron om geseĂ«n te wees, het hy gesĂȘ dit was iets wat hy altyd gedoen het maar nie onlangs kon doen nie omdat hy probeer het om harder te werk om meer geld te kry (iets wat ons almal doen). So, toe sĂȘ hy wat hy gaan doen is om nadat hy die telefoon neergesit het is om die Here te vra waar hy nodig het om te gee, en om nie meer te fokus om geld te maak nie en dat hy sy motor gaan verkoop.

Finances have since turned around for my oldest son, and he kept his car for eight more years! I hope that you too will take hold of God’s laws and choose to follow them by speaking to your Heavenly Husband and allowing Him to bless you. Do not be frightened about purchasing something, and always focus on giving.

Finansies hte sedertdien vir my oudste seun omgekeer, en hy het sy motor vir nog agt jaar gehou! ek hoop dat jy God se wette sal vasgryp en kies om hulle te volg deur met jou Hemelse man te praat en Hom toe te laat om jou te seën. Moet nie bang wees om  iets aan te koop nie, en fokus altyd op gee.

And now, just to give you another testimony to help solidify what God can do when you obey His spiritual laws rather than sacrifice what He has not asked for, I find it amazing that the testimony that I had planned to share with you is about my oldest son and a blessing that will last a lifetime!

En nou, net om vir jou nog ‘n getuienis te gee om te help om te verdig wat God kan doen wanneer jy Sy geestelike wette gehoorsaam eerder as om op te offer waarvoor Hy nie gevra het nie, ek vind dit ongelooflik dat die getuienis wat ek beplan het om met jou te deel is oor my oudste seun en ‘n seĂ«n wat ‘n leeftyd sal hou!

My Sixth of Many Financial Testimonies
My Sesde van Baie Finansiële Seëninge

“Getting Engaged”
“Raak Verloof”

In the last chapter, I was blessed to share about the honeymoon I was able to bless my son with. Well, as I have shared many times in many of my books, God promises us that we will receive double! When my oldest son found out that his younger brother was engaged he had a strange expression on his face. After drawing out the truth, I came to find out that he and his girlfriend had planned to marry the weekend just before, but had not announced anything due to the fact that they didn’t have the money to buy her an engagement ring.

In die laaste hoofstuk, was ek geseĂ«n om oor die wittebrood te deel wat ek in staat was om my seun mee te seĂ«n. Wel ek het dit baie keer in baie van my boeke gedeel. God belowe ons dat ons dubbel sal ontvang! Toe my oudste seun uitvind dat sy jonger broer verloof was het hy ‘n vreemde uitdrukking op sy gesig gehad. Nadat ek die waarheid uit hom getrek het, het ek uitgevind dat hy en sy meisie beplan het om die naweek voor dit trou, maar het dit nie aangekondig nie omdat hulle nie die geld gehad het om ‘n verloofring te koop nie.

The couple then had to discuss (after many tears on her side) that it would be wrong to get married before his brother and take the focus away from them. God saw their hearts and was about to bless them beyond imagination.

Die paartjie moes toe bespreek (na baie trane van haar kant af) dat dit verkeerd sou wees om te trou voor sy broer en die fokus van hulle af weg te neem. God het hulle harte gesien en was op die punt om hulle bo hulle verbeelding te seën.

While going to order one of the bridesmaid dresses (that I mentioned earlier in this chapter), the lady sent me across the store, when about midway I heard the Lord tell me to turn around. I turned and tried to see what He wanted me to look at when I spotted a jewellery counter that had a blue sign that said: 60% off and a red sign on top of that one that said: “Take an additional 30% off.” Yes, I immediately did the math and headed to the counter. I didn’t even know why I was there or what “I” needed, but then my oldest son came to mind.

Terwyl ek een van die strooimeisie se rokke gaan bestel he (wat ek vroeĂ«r in die hoofstuk genoem het), het die dame my na die oorkant van die winkel gestuur, toe ek omtrent in die middel was het ek gehoor hoe die Here vir my sĂȘ om om te draai. Ek het omgedraai en probeer sien waarna Hy wou hĂȘ ek moes kyk toe ek ‘n juweliers toonbank gesien het wat ‘n blou teken opgehad het wat gesĂȘ het: 60% af en ‘n rooi teken wat gesĂȘ het: “Neem ‘n addisionele 30% af” Ja, ek het onmiddellik die sommetjies in my kop gedoen en na die toonbank toe geloop. Ek het nie eens geweet waarom ek daar was of wat “ek” nodig gehad het nie, maar toe kom my oudste seun in my gedagtes op.

My daughters and I found a beautiful ring that was so inexpensive it was ridiculous. So, I excitedly called my son and told him to get down to the store and get it. He told me he “just didn’t have the money,” so I asked him “what about all the clients you have,” but he said that they hadn’t paid him yet.

My dogters en ek het ‘n pragtige ring gevind wat so goedkoop was, dit was belaglik. So, ek het opgewonde my seun geskakel en vir hom gesĂȘ om na die winkel toe te gaan en dit te kry. Hy het vir my gesĂȘ “ek het net nie die geld nie,” toe vra ek hom “wat van die kliente wat jy het,” maar hy het gesĂȘ dat hulle hom nog nie betaal het nie.

It wasn’t until the next morning when a fellow RMI member wrote and blessed me and gave an outrageously generous donation that God convicted her of giving me when I realized that I was one of my son's clients who hadn't paid him!

Dit was nie tot die volgende oggend toe ‘n mede HMI lidmaat geskryf het en my geseĂ«n het en ‘n  ontsagtike ruimhartige donasie waarvan God haar oortuig het om vir my te gee gegee het toe ek besef dat dit een van my seun se kliente was wat hom nie betaal het nie

Soon after my return from my last trip to Africa, I was supposed to pay the second half of an e-commerce site my son had built for me. When I told him I didn’t have the money to pay (back then), he did, in fact, tell me not to worry about paying it. He said that I had already blessed him and his company so much to get started by motivating them, that I never had to pay the final half of the bill.

Gou na my terugkoms van my laaste toer na Afrika toe, was ek veronderstel om die tweede helfte van ‘n e-handel webwerf wat my seun vir my gebou het te betaal. Toe ek vir hom sĂȘ dat ek nie die geld het om terug te betaal nie (destyds), hy het, feitlik, vir my gesĂȘ dat ek nie bekommerd moet wees oor om dit te betaal nie. Hy het gesĂȘ dat ek hom en sy maatskappy alreeds soveel geseĂ«n het om te begin deur hulle te motiveer, dat ek nooit die finale helfte van die rekening hoef te betaal het nie.  

Then, just before the New Year, Erin let me know that he and his company had tithed to RMI, and I saw it was more than what I had owed him. That morning, God, in an instant, had convicted me that I was indebted to him, which turned to utter joy at the thought of blessing him with the ring I saw!

Toe, net voor Nuwejaar, het Erin my laat weet dat hy en sy maatskappy hulle tiende aan HMI betaal het, en ek het gesien dat dit meer was as wat ek hom geskuld het. Daardie oggend, het God in ‘n oogwink, my oortuig dat ek hom geskuld het, wat uitgedraai het na uiterste vreugde met die gedagte dat ek hom kon seĂ«n met die ring wat ek gesien het!

When I called to shout the praises on my cell phone—that he probably would have been able to hear miles away from where he lived because I was so happy, I instead heard myself calmly ask him to meet me at a coffee cafĂ© just outside the mall.

Toe ek geskakel het om die lofsang uit te skree op my selfoon—wat hy seker myle ver van waar hy gebly het sou hoor want ek was so bly, het ek in plaas daarvan mysef gehoor hom kalm vra om my te ontmoet by ‘n koffie kafee net buite die winkelsentrum.

While there I explained how God had convicted me, and that I was there to buy him an engagement ring, but added that I wasn’t sure if it was what his fiancĂ© would like. Then he pointed to the jewellery store where they had picked out the ring she wanted. Can you believe that out of my mouth, on the phone, I asked him to meet me just outside the exact jewellery store where the ring they chose was?!?

Terwyl ek daar was het ek verduidelik hoe God my oortuig het, en dat ek daar was om vir hom ‘n verloofring te koop, maar het bygevoeg dat ek nie geweet het of dit was wat sy verloofde van sou hou nie. Toe het hy die juwelierswinkel waar hulle die ring wat sy wou gehad het uitgekies het aangewys. Kan jy glo dat uit my mond, oor die telefoon, ek hom gevra het om my net buite die presiese juwelierswinkel waar die ring wat hulle gekies het te ontmoet?!?!  

So, we went in to look at that ring and then went to the other store to see the ring I had found the night before. We soon realized that the main diamond was not the same cut, but nevertheless, I knew her ring was in that case! (It was my younger teenage daughter who assured me that it had to be the ring when I set off that morning.) After looking at two rings—there it was—it looked just like the one my son had just shown me—only this one had bigger diamonds, and included the wedding band (that also possessed a line of diamonds)!! The only difference was that it cost one-fourth of what he would have paid (had he been able to purchase it). Therein lies another principle: until we learn to follow His leading, we will find that He blocks a purchase because He has something better in mind when we finally seek Him for help.

So, toe gaan ons in om na die ring te kyk en toe na die ander winkel toe om die ring te sien wat ek gevind het die aand vantevore. Ons het gou besef dat die hoof diamant nie dieselfde snit was nie, maar nietemin, ek het geweet dat haar ring in daardie kas was! (Dit was my jongste tiener dogter wat my verseker het dat dit die ring moes wees toe ek daardie oggend uit is). Nadat ons na twee ringe gekyk het—daar was dit—dit het net soos die een gelyk wat my seun my gewys het—net hierdie een het groter diamante gehad, en het die troupand ingesluit (wat ook ‘n ry diamante bevat het)!! Die enigste verskil was dat dit ‘n kwart gekos het van wat hy sou betaal het (was hy in staat om dit te koop). Daarin lĂȘ nog ‘n beginsel: totdat ons leer om Sy leiding te volg, sal ons vind dat Hy ‘n aankoop blok omdat Hy iets beter in gedagte het wanneer ons Hom uiteindelik om hulp uitsoek.  

God allowed me to bless my son for the thousand ways that he has blessed me—and my ministry. It was my son who got me up on the Internet, and it was he who convinced me that I’d be able to write books about what God was doing in my life. He is the one who had my books ready to be printed. And as I have said to him, and now want to say to you—if it were not for my son giving me the confidence and lending me his support, I would never have my own ministry. Yes, Erin and RMI are the first whom God used to turn my life around. But if not for my son, I know I would not be able to minister to anyone. I would still be a local speaker at a few women’s meetings at our church. Well, maybe not after my husband (his father) left again. Yet, again, it was my son who encouraged me to accept the first speaking engagement outside this country after his dad left us.

God het my toegelaat om my seun te seĂ«n vir die duisende maniere waarop hy my geseĂ«n het—en my bediening. Dit was my seun wat my op die Internet gekry het, en dit was hy wat my oorreed het dat ek in staat sou wees om boeke te skryf oor wat God besig was om in my lewe te doen. Hy is die een wat my boeke gereed gekry het om te druk. En soos wat ek vir Hom gesĂȘ het, en nou vir jou wil sĂȘ—as dit nie vir my seun was wat my die vertroue en ondersteuning gegee het nie, sou ek noot my eie bediening gehad het nie. Ja, Erin en HMI is die eerstes wie God gebruik het om my lewe om te keer. Maar as dit nie vir my seun was nie, weet ek dat ek nie in staat sou wees om aan enigiemand te minister nie. Ek sou nog steeds ‘n plaaslike spreker by ‘n paar vrouens vergaderings by ons kerk wees. Wel, miskien nie na my man (sy pa) weer weg is nie. Tog, weer, was dit my seun wat my aangemoedig het om die eerste spraak afspraak buite die land te aanvaar na sy pa ons gelos het.

It wasn’t until my son had the ring in his hand when we turned the corner, that he took hold of my arm and with tears in his eyes thanked me, almost unable to speak. My oldest son is not in the least emotional, so to see him so moved was something I will never ever forget. He told me that after my call the night before, he went to his room and with his face to the ground, he cried out to God to help him get a ring. Yes, like Erin loves to say, “I [too]have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth” (3 John 1:4).

Dit was nie totdat my seun die ring in sy hand gehad toe ons om die hoek gegaan het, dat hy my arm geneem het en met trane in sy oĂ« my bedank het, amper nie in staat om te praat nie. My oudste seun is nie in die minste emosioneel nie, so om hom so bewoĂ« te sien was iets wat ek nooit sal vergeet nie. Hy het vir my gesĂȘ dat na my oproep die aand vantevore, hy na sy kamer toe gegaan het met sy gesig op die grond, het hy uitgeroep na God toe om hom te help om ‘n ring te kry. Ja, soos Erin van hou om te sĂȘ, “ Niks verskaf my groter vreugde nie as om te hoor dat my kinders in die waarheid lewe” (3 Johannes 1:4).

Today, this very evening, something special will take place in the Big Apple, New York City. My son will ask a beautiful young woman to be his wife and hold out that very special ring—hoping to make her his bride.

Vandag, hierdie einste aand, sal iets in die Groot Appel, New York Stad plaasvind. My seun sal ‘n pragtige jong vrou vra om sy vrou te wees en daardie baie spesiale ring uithou—en hoop om haar sy bruid te maak.

Joernaal

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