Hoofstuk 7 “Vasgekeer”

“For Pharaoh will say of the sons of Israel,

‘They are wandering aimlessly in the land;

the wilderness has shut them in.’”

—Exodus 14:3

 

“Dan sal die farao dink die Israeliete

het verdwaal en is deur die woestyn vasgekeer.

—Eksodus 14:3

 

Today while returning home from a dentist’s appointment, I had a chance to share some truth with my daughter that I would love to share with you too. It encouraged me while I was encouraging her. Today, if you are feeling a bit cornered in your current situation, I believe, you, too, will walk away encouraged. Here is what I said:

Vandag terwyl ek teruggekom het van ‘n tandarts afspraak af, het ek ‘n kans gehad om waarheid met my dogter te deel wat ek graag met jou ook wil deel. Dit het my aangmoedig terwyl ek haar aangemoedig het. Vandag, as jy ‘n bietjie vasgekeer voel in jou huidige situasie, glo ek, jy, sal JY ook, aangemoedig wegloop. Dit is wat ek gesê het: 

Did you know that the sheer absurdity of some of our situations is a clear sign that the Lord is doing something amazing in our lives? Our current crisis, especially the more illogical, is happening for one very good reason—it’s in order that He can build an awesome testimony. A testimony that He hopes we will share to encourage others, and more importantly, to help them know Him in a deeply personal relationship—a relationship that “begins” with their salvation.

Weet jy dat die pure absurditeit van sommige van ons situasies ‘n duidelike teken IS dat die Here iets ongeloofliks in ons lewens doen? Ons huidige krisis, spesiaal die mees onlogies, gebeur vir een goeie rede—dit is sodat Hy ‘n ongelooflike getuienis kan opbou. ‘n Getuienis wat Hy hoop ons sal deel om ander aan te moedig, en meer belangrik, om hulle te help om Hom in ‘n diep persoonlike verhouding te ken—’n verhouding wat “begin” met hulle redding.  

Testimonies are wonderful to have, yet they are never easy to live through. The little crises that we get through easily are rarely good enough to excite most people into seeking the Lord for themselves. The little testimonies we can easily travel through certainly wouldn’t mesmerize any group of women I’ve met in Kenya, or Brazil. So that’s why the Lord saw fit to begin building some incredible testimonies for me to share—knowing I would be traveling someday—sooner than I ever expected.

Getuienise is wonderlik om te hê, tog is hulle nooit maklik om deur te leef nie. Die klein krisisse wat ons maklik deurkom is skaars goed genoeg om meeste mense opgewonde te kry om die Here op te soek vir hulself. Die klein getuienisse wat ons maklik deur reis sal sekerlik nie enige groep vrouens wat ek in Kenya, of Brasilië ontmoet het betower nie. So dit was to die Here dit goed gevind het om sommige ongelooflke getuienisse te bou vir my om te deel—wetend dat ek een dag sou reis—gouer as wat ek verwag het. 

Whether or not I go back around the world again, or whether or not you will soon venture into a new country you never even knew existed, the Lord is all about building almost unbelievable testimonies in the lives of His brides. Also, I can personally attest to the fact that without having a Husband to take my hand, and carry me over the rough spots, most of my trials I’d never have made it through—which is always the key focus of my testimony—Him, His love and how He carries us over the thresholds of new things too difficult for us.

Of ek nou weer terug rondom die wêreld gaan of nie, en  of jy gou na ‘n nuwe land wat jy nie geweet het bestaan sou waag of nie, die Here gaan alles oor om die mees ongelooflike getuienisse in die lewens van Sy bruide te bou. Ook, ek kan persoonlik attesteer tot die feit dat sonder om ‘n Man te hê om my hand te neem en my oor die rowwe plekke te dra, sou ek dit nie deur meeste van my beproewings gemaak het nie—wat altyd die sleutel fokus van my getuienis is—Hy, Sy liefde en hoe Hy ons oor die drumpel van nuwe dinge wat te moeilik is vir ons dra.

Another reason our trials are so difficult is that in today’s world we also are competing with television shows and movies, viral posts. Television and YouTube videos claim to be “reality” but are in “reality” situations that are most often setup and staged, fictional, to capture its audience. That’s why the Lord is doing even greater feats of amazement in the life of His brides. A bride who is so in love with Him that she is willing to trust Him, allowing Him to foster a desire for other women (and men) to seek to find Him and His love.

Nog ‘n rede waarom ons beproewings so moeilik is is dat in vandag se wêreld ons ook met televisieprogramme en vlieks, virale plasings  kompeteer. Televisie en YouTube video eis om “realiteit” te wees maar is in “realiteit” situasies wat meer dikwels opgestel is en opgevoer, fiktief, om die gehoor vas te vang. Dit is waarom die Here selfs groter prestasies van verwondering in die lewe van Sy bruide doen. ‘n Bruid wie so verlief op Hom is dat sy gewillig is om op Hom te vertrou, Hom toe te laat om ‘n begeerte vir ander vrouens (en mans) te kweek om Hom en Sy liefde te soek en te vind.

So, is this what’s going on in your life dear bride? Does your life appear to be so incredibly, and horrendously fictional due to the crazy trials that you are being asked to go through?

So, is dit wat in jou lewe aangaan liewe bruid? Lyk jou lewe so ongelooflik, en verskriklik fiktief as gevolg van die onbesinnige beproewings waardeur jy gevra is om deur te gaan?

That’s just what’s been going on in my life and in our family since the Lord chose to begin building a new testimony in my life: when my husband walked out on our restored marriage. There are many, many areas of my family’s life that we went through: tremendous crises, trials, attacks, and betrayals—honestly, the list is endless. It seemed that the “enemy” was coming against me in every area of my life: my relationships, my reputation, my ministry, my finances, and also coming against my children. Nevertheless, while writing this particular book I have tried to stay focused primarily on our financial crises and how He brought me through them.

Dit is net wat in my en ons familie se lewens aangaan vandat die Here gekies het om ‘n nuwe getuienis in my lewe te bou; toe my man op ons herstelde huwelik uitgeloop het. Daar is baie, baie areas van my familie se lewens wat deur: geweldige krisisse, beproewings, aanvalle, en verraad gegaan het—eerlik, die lys is eindeloos. Die het gelyk asof die “vyand” in elke area van my lewe teen my kom: ny verhoudings, my reputasie, my bediening, my finansies, en ook teen my kinders. Nietemin, terwyl ek hierdie spesifieke boek geskryf het het ek probeer om hoofsaaklik gefokus te bly op ons finansiële krisisse en hoe Hy my deur hulle gebring het.  

Yet, questions tried to pound in my brain, not just from the enemy but from people who would ask: How could any man do what he did to his family? Stating, that by leaving me and our children he had to have known that it would cause mass destruction—since he’d already done it once before. How could he sleep at night?

Tog, vrae het probeer om in my brein te klop, nie net van die vyand af nie maar van mense wat sou vra: Hoe kan ‘n man doen wat hy gedoen het aan sy familie? En verklaar dat deur my en my kinders te los moes hy geweet het dit sou massa verwoesting veroorsaak—aangesien hy dit al voorheen gedoen het. Hoe kan hy in die aand slaap?

So, my question to my Beloved was: Is my ex-husband a man of the worst kind, since the actions of these kinds of men are actually destroying their own children in pursuit of their personal gain? Or are we looking at this entirely wrong?

So, my vraag aan my beminde was: Is my eks-man ‘n man van die ergste soort, aangesien die aksies van hierdie soort mans hulle eie kinders in die agtervolging van hulle persoonlike wins   verwoes? Of kyk ons heeltemal verkeerd hierna?

Didn’t the Bible tell us that it was God who hardened Pharaoh’s heart? And if He hardened Pharaoh’s heart, then does it really matter who is behind the crisis you and I are currently living through? And if it wasn’t God who hardened my ex-husband’s heart, or your bosses’ heart, or that friend you thought you could count on and trust, but instead it was their own selfishness, and self-centeredness, may I ask: Who besides me would have to confess that if it were not for the Lord and His love, now as His bride, you and I would act the very same way?

Vertel die Bybel nie vir ons dat dit God was wat Farao se hart verhard het nie? En as Hy Farao se hart verhard het, maak dit dan regtig saak wie agter die krisis is wat jy en ek huidig deur lewe? En as dit nie God was wat my eks-man se hart verhard het nie, of jou baas se hart, of daardie vriendin waarop jy gedink het jy kan staat maak en vertrou, maar in plaas daarvan was dit hulle eie dwaasheid, en selfgesentreerdheid, mag ek vra; Wie buiten ek moet bieg dat as dit nie was vir die Here en Sy liefde, nou as Sy bruid, sou jy en ek op dieselfde manier opgetree het?

Now, getting back to the point, if God had not used a Pharaoh and his army to corner the Israelites, then would any of us have witnessed the parting of the Red Sea? And if we didn’t have the testimony of the Red Sea, how would we be able to believe God and His promises in our situation?

Nou, om terug tot op die punt te kom, as God nie vir Farao en sy weermag gebruik het om die Israeliete vas te keer nie, sou enigeen van ons van die skeiding van die rooi see getuig het ? En as ons nie die getuienis van die Rooi See gehad het nie, hoe sou ons in staat gewees het om in God en Sy beloftes in ons situasie te glo?

That’s what my daughter and I were just discussing today. It came up because we had just come from a consultation where her dentist told us that once we were through (in the matter of a few weeks), her treatment was going to cost thousands of dollars. And because of the guilt my daughter had, that I (as her mom and only provider) had to pay it, my daughter went to the bank, emptied her savings account, and put a stack of money in my hand to help pay for it.

Dit is wat my dogter en ek vandag bespreek het. Dit het opgekom omdat ons net terug gekom het van ‘n konsultasie waar haar tandarts vir ons gesê het dat sodra ons klaar is (oor ‘n paar weke),  haar behandeling duisende rande sou kos. En omdat my dogter skuldgevoelens gehad het, dat ek (as haar ma en enigste voorsiener) dit moes betaal, het my dogter na die bank toe gegaan, en haar spaarrekening leeggemaak, en ‘n klomp geld in my hand geplaas om te help om daarvoor te betaal.

We are all just like that with God, aren’t we? We are so indebted to Him, and feel too guilty to accept His free gift, so we feel that somehow, in some way, we need to do “something” to help. Yet, just like my daughter, our attempts to help are so feeble since our resources and abilities are limited while His are limitless. It is just so difficult to fathom the goodness of God, of His generosity, because we feel unworthy to accept it; don’t we?

Ons is almal so met God, is ons nie? Ons is so aan Hom verskuldig, en voel so skuldig om Sy gratis geskenk te aanvaar, so ons voel dat op een of ander manier, ons “iets” moet doen om te help. Tog, net soos my dogter, is ons pogings om te help so swak aangesien ons hulpbronne en vermoëns beperk is waar Syne onbeperk is. Dit is net so moeilik om die goedheid van God te begryp, van Sy vrygewigheid, omdat ons onwaardig voel om dit te aanvaar; doen ons nie?

At this moment, I am seeking the Lord about accepting her money since I don’t want to rob her of a blessing. Yet, even more importantly, I don’t want to encourage her to believe that she must help God when He puts her in a position of needing Him, and Him alone.

Op hierdie oomblik, soek ek die Here aan of ek haar geld moet aanvaar aangesien ek haar nie van ‘n seën wil beroof nie. Tog, meer belangrik, ek wil haar nie aanmoedig om te glo dat sy vir God moet help wanneer Hy haar in ‘n posisie plaas om behoeftig aan Hom, en Hom alleen te wees nie.

Currently as I’ve stated over and over—I am being backed into the Red Sea financially, and the deeper I get, the harder it has become, becoming nearly impossible, to hide it any longer from my children. My children and I have all come to know that basically—there is really no way out. Often, when I really think of how bad things are, or have to look at how horrible things are (when I pay a bill or look at my bank balance), my mind wants to do SOMETHING!! And each time the Lord poses the same question, “Michele, what can you do?” Truly my situation is so much more than anything I could ever do, so it’s simply foolish for me to even try. Therefore, I choose to simply trust Him.

Huidig soos wat ek oor en oor verklaar het—ek is finansieël teen die Rooi See opgestoot, en hoe dieper ek gaan, hoe moeiliker word dit, en amper onmoontlik om dit langer van my kinders af weg te steek. My kinders en ek weet almal daar is geen pad uit nie. Dikwels, wanneer ek regtig dink hoe sleg dinge is, of kyk hoe aaklig dinge is (wanneer ek ‘n rekening betaal of na my bank balans kyk), wil my gedagtes IETS doen!! En elke keer vra die Here dieselfde vraag, “Michele, wat kan jy doen?” Werklik my situasie is soveel meer as enigiets wat ek ooit kon doen, so dit is eenvoudig dwaas vir my om selfs te probeer. Daarom, verkies ek eenvoudig om op Hom te vertrou.   

What could the Israelites do when the enemy had them cornered next to the Red Sea, shut in on every side?

Wat kon die Israeliete doen toe die vyand hulle langs die Rooi See vasgekeer het, aan albei kante toegemaak?

In the same way, how can my daughter help? What she can do to help is much too little, and much too late. We all must face that our entire family is being buried in insurmountable debt with no way out. Funny thing is, I knew that we would be.

Op dieselfde wyse, hoe kan my dogter help? Wat sy kan doen om te help is hopeloos te min, en hopeloos te laat. Ons moet almal aanvaar dat ons hele familie begrawe word in onoorkomlike skuld met geen manier uit nie. Snaakse ding is, ek het geweet dat ons sou wees.

When I first began to watch our finances fading, the Lord told me to remember Lazarus, and immediately I thought: That guy was buried, right? But not before He died. So my question to the Lord then and something I ask often is, “Am I dead, or am I already dead and am I being buried?” I ask because I am looking beyond where I am to when His resurrection power arrives! I am waiting to hear Jesus calling out to me, like He did for Martha and Mary’s brother— “Lazarus, come out!” with that loud voice that I listen every day to hear.

Toe ek eers begin toekyk het hoe ons finansies misluk, het die Here vir my gesê om Lasarus te onthou, en ek het onmiddellik gedink. Daardie ou was begrawe reg? Maar nie voor Hy dood is nie. So my vraag aan die Here toe en iets wat ek dikwels vra is, “Is ek dood, of is ek alreeds dood en word ek begrawe?” Ek vra omdat ek verder kyk as waar ek is en tot wanneer  Sy opstanding krag arriveer! Ek wag vir Jesus om uit te roep na my toe, soos wat Hy vir Marta en Maria se broer gedoen het— “Lasarus, kom uit!” met daardie harde stem waarna ek elke dag luister om te hoor.

The absurdity of my situation—no one would believe it if they knew the details—but it is the truth. That’s why I know that it has to be God. So when I began to weaken in my faith this past Sunday, He was so faithful to make sure I knew it was Him so I was spiritually solid to face the next day.

Die absurdity van my situasie—niemand sou dit glo as hulle die besonderhede geken het nie—maar dit is die waarheid. Dit is waarom ek weet dat dit God moes wees. So toe ek verlede Sondag begin het om in my geloof te verswak, was Hy getrou om seker te maak dat ek geweet het dit was Hy sodat ek geestelik solied was om die volgende dag in die gesig te staar.

When I woke up Monday morning I had to rush my son over to urgent care, and as you might expect, we have no medical insurance. Two hours later I got home, only to run my daughter to the dentist who referred her to an endodontist for a root canal (and we all know how expensive that is). Then when I got home I got a call from our orthodontist to get an x-ray for my son’s wisdom teeth to be removed. And, yes, of course they need to come out. Within a matter of ten hours, I was being buried in even more debt than I or anyone could imagine.. En, ja, natuurlik  oes hulle uitkom. 

Toe ek Maandag oggend wakker word moes ek my seun injaag om dringende versorging te kry, en soos wat jy mag verwag, ons het geen mediese assuransie nie. Twee ure later het ek by die huis gekom, net om my dogter na die tandarts toe te neem wie haar na ‘n ortodontis toe verwys het vir ‘n wortelkanaal (en ons almal weet hoe duur dit is). Toe ek by die huis kom het ek ‘n oproep van die ortodontis gekry om ‘n x-straal van my seun se wystande te kry om verwyder te word. En, ja, natuurlik  moes hulle uitkom. Binne tien ure, was ek onder selfs meer skuld begrawe as wat ek of enigiemand kan verbeel.

That same day I found myself pleading with my daughter to NOT ask her dad to pay for her dental work. Even though she didn’t come right out and ask him, she gingerly let her step-mom know about what’s going on, and she found out that the news had reached her dad. Though it surprised my daughter that he didn’t offer to help, and that instead he indirectly boasted that he now had dental insurance and that his new bother-in-law is a dentist—it didn’t surprise me he didn’t offer to help. That’s because all of what’s happening is part of His plan, a plan to prosper us! If her dad helped (or if anyone else helped), wouldn’t it take away from what He is about to do?

Dieselfde dag het ek by my dogter gepleit on NIE haar pa te vra om vir haar tandheelkundige werk te betaal nie. Alhoewel sy nie reguit uitgekom het en hom gevra het nie, het sy versigtig haar stiefma laat weet wat aangaan, en sy het uitgevind dat die nuus haar pa bereik het. Alhoewel dit my dogter verras het dat hy nie geoffer het om te help nie, en dat in plaas daarvan hy indirek gespog het dat hy nou die tandheelkunde assuransie het en sy nuwe swaer ‘n tandarts is—het dit  my nie verras dat hy nie geoffer het om te help nie. Dit is omdat alles wat besig was om te gebeur deel van Sy plan was, ‘n plan om ons voorspoed te gee! As haar pa ons gehelp het (of as enigiemand anders gehelp het), sou dit nie wegneem van wat Hy op die punt staan om te doen nie?

Yet, later, I had to ask myself why I hadn’t just let her go ahead and plead with her dad to help? Didn’t we need the help? Didn’t he owe it to her—I mean, she’s his daughter too. But I know why. It’s because either my God will supply ALL our needs or He won’t. And if He won’t, what am I doing trusting Him for my salvation. I mean—that’s for eternity!!

Tog, later moes ek myself vra waarom het ek haar nie net toegelaat om by haar pa te pleit om hulp nie? Het ons nie die hulp nodig gehad nie? Is hy dit nie aan haar verskuldig nie—ek bedoel sy is ook sy dogter. Maar ek weet waarom. Dit is omdat of my God sal in AL ons behoeftes  voorsien of Hy sal nie. En as Hy nie sal nie, wat doen ek om op Hom te vertrou vir my redding. Ek bedoel— dit is vir ewig!! 

Isn’t that the point? Either we can trust the Lord in all areas of our lives, or it’s ludicrous to trust Him for something as permanent as forever, right? We’re talking eternity! In addition, let’s talk about us helping God. Doesn’t “God help those who help themselves” or did He instead say that it is “not by works of righteousness (since they are filthy rags), but according to His mercy that He saved” and is continually saving us as we cry out to Him?

Is dit nie die punt nie? Of ons kan op die Here vertou op alle gebiede van ons lewens, of dit is belaglik om op Hom te vertrou vir iets so permanent soos vir altyd reg? Ons praat van die ewigheid! Ter aanvulling, kom on praat oor ons wat God help. “Help God nie die wat hulleself help nie” of het Hy eerder gesê dat dit nie op grond van iets wat ons vir ons vryspraak gedoen het nie, maar op grond van sy eie ontferming” en Hy red ons voortdurend soos wat ons na Hom toe uitroep?

And if we do have to help Him, isn’t that works? Doesn’t that mean we, then, can boast? And if it is our works that are needed, then what about that sweet Mormon girl that I have been witnessing to—her “religion” is a pretty good one as religions go. Is the Good News message to simply trust the Lord initially, but then work like crazy to gain a higher place with Him, like keeping the Sabbath, don’t drink caffeine, etc, etc.?

En as ons Hom moet help, is dit nie iets wat ons moet doen nie? Beteken dit dat ons dan, kan spog? En as dit iets wat gedoen moet wees wat benodig is, dan wat van daardie oulike Mormoonse meisie vir wie ek getuig—haar “geloof” is ‘n taamlike goeie een soos wat geloof gaan. Is die Goeie Nuus boodskap om die Here aanvanklik te vertrou, maar dan soos ‘n mal ding te werk om ‘n hoë plek by Hom te verkry, soos om die Sabbat te hou, nie kafiëne te drink nie, ens, ens.?   

How can I honestly tell this Mormon girl that trusting Him alone is enough, if my life proves that He can’t be trusted to provide all of our needs without a little help (or worrying) from me?

Hoe kan ek eerlik vir hierdie Mormoonse meisie vertel dat om op Hom te vertrou genoeg is, as my lewe bewys dat Hy nie vertrou kan word om in al ons behoeftes sonder ‘n bietjie hulp (of bekommernis) van my te voorsien nie?

Maybe this all sounds too ludicrous for you, but it is making so much sense to me.

Miskien klink dit alles te belaglik vir jou, maar dit maak vir my sin.

Yes, fear tries to grip me.

Ja, vrees probeer om my vas te gryp.

Reason tries to confuse me.

Rede probeer om my te verwar.

Doubt tries to invade that peace that I have grown so accustom to.

Twyfel probeer om die vrede waaraan ek gewoond is te infiltreer.

So I dig my fingers deeper into that spear-pierced side of His, and grab any part of His garment that I can find. If I don’t have Him, truly, who do I have? And when it comes down to it, what do I want or need besides Him anyway? This house, a ministry, my reputation?

So ek grawe my vingers dieper in die spies-deurboorde sy van Hom, en gryp enige deel van Sy kledingstuk wat ek kan vind. As ek Hom nie het nie, waarlik, wie het ek? En op die ou einde, wat wil ek hê of wat het ek in elk geval nodig behalwe Hom? Hierdie huis, ‘n bediening, my reputasie?

Dear bride, whether you are under piles of debt, or shame, or fear, or ridicule, or emotional scars, or physical pain—you, my dear, are being cornered on purpose. He wasn’t worried when this all began, and He is not concerned now that it has taken a sudden turn for the worse. It is all part of the glorious plan that He foreknew and preplanned long before you were even born. And all of it, my love, is for a purpose. But the greatest purpose is so that you, whom He adores so much, can experience His immeasurable love for you, and unlimited patience, toward you.

Liewe bruid, of jy onder hope skuld is, of skande, of vrees, of bespotting, of emosionele letsels, of fisiese pyn—jy, my skat, word doelbewus vasgekeer. Hy was nie bekommerd toe dit alles begin het nie, en Hy is nie bekommerd noudat dit skielik erger begin word het. En dit is alles deel van sy glorieryke plan wat Hy vantevore geweet het en vooraf beplan het lank voor jy selfs gebore is. En alles, my liefie, is vir ‘n doel. Maar die grootste doel is sodat jy, vir wie Hy so baie adoreer, sy onmeetbare liefde vir jou, en sy onbeperkte geduld, teenoor jou, kan ervaar. 

Dear friend, if you are facing anything like I am, do what I plan to do—crawl deep into His mercy and His grace, then look up and peer intently into His face of glory that reflects the goodness that is about to happen.

Liewe vriendin, as jy enigiets in die gesig staar soos wat ek doen, doen wat ek beplan om te doen—kruip diep in Sy guns en Sy genade, kyk dan op en tuur aandagtig in Sy gesig van glorie wat die goedheid wat op die punt staan om te gebeur weerspieël.

My Seventh of Many Financial Testimonies
My Sewende van Baie Finansiële Getuienis

“Honeymoon Bliss, Continued”
“Wittebrood Saligheid, Voortgesit”

In chapter 5, I shared with you how the Lord miraculously had gone before me and set up a honeymoon that was a dream for a young couple. And as I mentioned, the enemy is always out to steal our joy if he can’t first steal our miracle. He is able to steal it when we panic and agree with him when the blessing looks like it won’t happen.

In hoofstuk 5, het ek met jou gedeel hoe die Here wonderbaarlik voor my gegaan het en ‘n wittebrood opgestel het wat ‘n droom vir ‘n jong paartjie was. En soos ek genoem het, die vyand is altyd daarop uit om ons vreugde te steel as hy nie eers ons wonderwerk kan steel nie. Hy is in staat om dit te steel wanneer ons paniekerig raak en met hom saamstem wanneer dit lyk of die seën nie sal gebeur nie.

The day I wrote the final paragraph of the honeymoon testimony, I was able to finally get the exact dates of the resort so that I could book the flight. Since I know how delay in anything brings in new obstacles, I was somewhat expecting something. Yet, this one crisis helped to stretch my faith and has since given me a new and exciting outlook that I had not been able to grasp had it not been for this test.

Die dag wat ek die finale paragraaf van die wittebrood getuienis geskryf het, was ek finaal in staat om die presiese datum van die vakansieoord te kry sodat ek die vlug kon bespreek. Aangesien ek weet hoe ‘n vertraging in enigiets nuwe struikelblokke bring, het ek ietwat iets verwag. Tog, hierdie een krisis het my gehelp om my geloof te rek en het sedertdien vir my ‘n nuwe en opwindende uitkyk gegee wat ek nie in staat was om aan te gryp was dit nie vir hierdie toets nie.

While booking the flight online, it finally occurred to me that the dollar amount that was on the screen was above and in addition to the 80,000 flying miles I had. What threw me off was that the second two options had a higher dollar amount; so I assumed that the amount posted simply meant the “cost of the flights” if a person were paying for them, not that it was adding additional money I had to pay!

Terwyl ek die vlug aanlyn bespreek het, het dit finaal vir my voorgekom dat die rand bedrag wat op die skerm was bo op en bygevoeg by die 80,000 vliegmyle wat ek gehad het. Wat my omver gegooi het was dat die tweede twee opsies ‘n hoë6r rand bedrag gehad het, so toe neem ek aan dat die bedrag wat geplaas is eenvoudig die “koste van die vlugte” beteken asof ‘n persoon vir hulle betaal, nie dat dit ‘n addisionele bedrag bygevoeg is wat ek moes betaal nie! . 

That’s the moment the enemy held a party in my honor. The enemy mocked me, reminding me how I had been so excited to tell everyone how good God is, and what a joke my testimony was that I had just written. Now, here I was, once again, the biggest of fools. He reminded me over and over again that I was going to have to pay hundreds of dollars that I did not have. “Now what are you going to do ‘foolish woman of God’”?!?!

Dit is die oomblik wat die vyand ‘n partytjie in my eer gehou het. Die vyand het met my gespot, en my herinner hoe ek so opgewonde was om almal te vertel hoe goed God is, en wat ‘n grap my getuienis was wat ek nounet geskryf het. Nou, hier was ek, weereens, die grootste gek. Hy het my oor en oor herinner dat ek honderde rande sou moes betaal wat ek nie gehad het nie, “Nou wat gaan jy doen jou dwase vrou van God’’?!?!

What else could I do? All I could do was to tune into the still small voice of the Lord. Except, when fear takes hold, it deafens you to hearing from Him. I wonder if this is how Eve felt? When the enemy lied to her, did her heart sink to the point that she was made deaf to what she already knew about the goodness of God? I think that maybe for the first time I am finding compassion and understanding with the first woman and mother of mankind.

Wat anders kon ek doen? Al wat ek kon doen was om in te skakel by die klein stil stem van die Here. Behalwe, wanneer vrees jou beetkry, maak dit jou doof om van Hom te hoor. Ek wonder of dit is hoe Eva gevoel het? Toe die vyand vir haar gejok het, het haar hart gesink tot op die punt waar sy doof gemaak was tot waar sy alreeds geweet het van die goedheid van God? Ek dink dat miskien vir die eerste keer vind ek deernis en verstandhouding vir die eerste vrou en moeder van die mensdom.

Though it seemed like an eternity, I believe the miracle happened within about 24 hours of trusting Him with this crisis. It took my digging deep into my faith to choose to move ahead. I told myself, “Okay, so what? If I have to pay, I will pay it. Never mind about the testimony that is now not as good as it was. I, at least, got it down on paper, right? If I don’t share it again, that’s okay. Or if I do, of course I would explain the “little P.S.” at the end. P.S.  I had to pay several hundred dollars. For a honeymoon in Hawaii it’s still a great deal, right?”

Alhoewel dit soos ‘n ewigheid gevoel het, glo ek die wonderwerk gebeur het binne 24 uur wat ek Hom met hierdie krisis vertrou het. Dit het gekos dat ek diep in my geloof moes grawe om te kies om vorentoe te beweeg. Ek het vir myself gesê, “Reg, so wat? as ek moet betaal, sal ek dit betaal. Maak nie saak oor die getuienis wat nou nie so goed is as wat dit was nie. Ek, ten minste, het ek dit op papier gekry, reg? As ek dit nie weer deel nie, is dit reg. Of as ek doen, natuurlik sal ek die “klein N.S.” verduidelik aan die einde. N.S. ek moes etlike honderde rande betaal. Vir ‘n wittebrood in Hawaii is dit nog steeds ‘n goeie transaksie, reg?”

Right before I was getting online to book it, I decided I need to build my faith, so I began going over all that the Lord had miraculously done in my life. Even the most recent things He’s done, when you stop to ponder them, will build your faith in His ability to “work all things out for good” and do the impossible! It was during this period of complete bombardment in my mind that I realized that I needed to be sure to write and post each and everything the Lord did for me, then print it off and keep it in a single document so I can search for as much encouragement as I will need the next time I’m going through crisis. Something to hold onto and read during times like these. And along with these testimonies of my own, I also plan to gather ones from our the RMI website of faithful brides, like you, also any I can write down that my friends have shared with me. I must continually build enough faith so that no crisis can ever come against to topple me, not ever! But, first, let me finish my testimony.

Net voordat ek aanlyn gegaan het om dit te bespreek, het ek besluit dat ek my geloof moes opbou, so toe begin ek oor alles wat die Here wonderbaarlik in my lewe gedoen het te gaan. Selfs die mees onlangse dinge wat Hy gedoen het, wanneer jy stop om aan hulle na te dink, sal dit jou geloof in Sy vemoë om “alles ten goede te laat uitwerk” en die onmoontlike te doen opbou! Dit was gedurende hierdie tydperk van algehele bombadering in my gedagtes dat ek besef het dat ek seker moes wees om ieder en alles wat die Here vir my gedoen het neer te skryf en te plaas, en dit dan te druk en dit in ‘n enkel dokument te hou sodat ek vir soveel aanmoediging kan soek as wat ek nodig het die volgende keer wat ek deur ‘n krisis gaan. Iets om aan vas te hou en te lees gedurende sulke tye soos dit. En saam met die getuienisse van my eie, beplan ek ook om die op die HMI webwerf van getroue bruide, soos jy,  te versamel, ook enige  wat ek kan neerskryf wat my vriende met my gedeel het. Ek moet voortdurend genoeg geloof bou sodat geen krisis ooit kan kom om my om te slaan nie, nooit nie! Maar, eers, laat my die getuienis voltooi.

Just before I logged onto the site, I found myself asking the Lord to “reduce” the additional cost. The first thought I had was to ask Him to “eliminate” it, but my faith could only truly believe for a “reduction.” So that is what I asked Him for.

Net voor ek op die webwerf gegaan het, het ek myself vind vir die Here vra “verminder” die addisonele koste. Die eerste gedagte wat ek gehad het was om Hom te vra om dit te “elimineer,” maar my geloof kon net werklik glo vir ‘n “vermindering,” So dit is waarvoor ek Hom gevra het.

When I opened the page, instead of three options, there suddenly appeared a fourth that was not there the other four times I had logged on!!! And it was the lowest cost that was listed first! Rather than hundreds of dollars, which I didn’t have, suddenly the additional cost was just $61.00. Remember, I asked for a “reduction” —so the Lord gave me just what I had asked for!!

Toe ek die bladsy oopmaak, in plaas van drie opsies, het daar skeilik ‘n vierde opsie verskyn wat nie daar was die ander vier keer wat ek aanlyn gegaan het nie!!! En, dit was die laagste koste wat eerste gelys was! Eerder as duisende rande, wat ek nie gehad het nie, was die addisonele koste skielik net R877.00. Onthou, ek het gevra vir ‘n “vermindering” —so die Here het vir my gegee net wat ek gevra het!! 

Elated, I shared it with all my children who were just in the next room. However, booking it was still proving to be a brick wall, which leads me to another principle: To gain your blessing it often takes pressing through. No matter how often I tried, the site wouldn’t take my information and ultimately I had to seek God for wisdom. He told me to call, which did mean I was starting all over. Which leads to another principle:

Verheug, het ek dit met al my kinders gedeel wat net in die kamer langsaan was. Nietemin, om dit te bespreek het gelyk asof dit ‘n baksteen muur was, wat my na ‘n ander beginsel gelei het: Om jou seëning te win beteken dit jy moet deurdruk. Maak nie saak hoe dikwels ek probeer het nie, die webwerf wou nie my informasie neem nie en uiteindelik moes ek God nastreef vir Sy wysheid. Hy het vir my gesê om te skakel, wat beteken het dat ek moes oor begin. Wat lei na nog ‘n beginsel:

The enemy not only loves to steal our promise, and our joy, but when that won’t work, he loves to wear us out. “He will speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law” (Daniel 7:25).

Die vyand is nie net lief daarvoor om ons belofte, en ons vreugde, te steel nie maar wanneer dit nie werk nie, hou hy daarvan om ons uit te mergel. “Hy sal teen die Allerhoogste laster en die heiliges van die Allerhoogste vervolg. Hy sal probeer om die godsdienstige feeste en wette te verander, en die heiliges van die Allerhoogste sal in sy mag oorgegee word vir die hele vasgestelde tyd” (Daniel 7:25).

What’s also important to note is that my son and soon to be new daughter were watching the entire scene take place. So, while sharing the details with them, I am always quick to boast about my weakness of not being able to believe and ask for the additional fee to be eliminated—but only reduced. But this has proved to be a blessing since God always, and will forever cause all things to work out for good! And may I say, I am determined to not be in this place again!

Wat so belangrik is om te noteer is dat my seun en my toekomstige dogter dopgehou het hoe hierdie hele toneel afspeel. So, terwyl ek die besonderhede met hulle gedeel het, is ek altyd gou om oor my swakheid te roem dat ek nie in staat was om te glo en vra vir die addisonele fooi om elimineer te word nie—maar net verminder. Maar dit het bewys om ‘n seën te wees aangesien God altyd, en vir ewig sal veroorsaak dat alles ten goede meewerk! En mag ek sê ek is vasberade om nooit weer in hierdie plek te wees nie!

As I said earlier, I really need to create one document in order for me to easily search through, and I’d like to encourage you to do the same thing. All of us need to equip ourselves and arm ourselves with testimonies that are at our fingertips when the enemy strikes out against our faith. Sometimes the Lord is moving so quickly in my life, I barely have time to sit down and write down what has happened in one day! However, I will simply trust the Lord to help me get these testimonies written down, then I hope to also sow them into the lives of others and submit all of them to the RMI website.

Soos wat ek vroeër gesê het, ek moet regtig net een dokument vir my skep sodat ek dit maklik kan deursoek, en ek wil jou graag aanmoedig om dieselfde ding te doen. Almal van ons moet onsself toerus en bewapen met getuienisse wat aan ons vingerpunte is wanneer die vyand ons teen ons geloof tref. Somtyds beweeg die Here so gou in my lewe, ek het skaars tyd om te sit en neer te skryf wat in een dag gebeur het! Nietemin, ek sal eenvoudig op die Here vertrou om my te help om hierdie getuienis neer te skryf, en dan hoop ek om hulle in die lewens van ander te saai en hulle almal na die HMI webwerf in te dien.

What about you? How will you fare during a crisis? Every day, or at least once a week, be sure to gather the testimonies from the RMI website, then make sure they are easily found and searchable. Also be certain you have your own testimonies to share—begin to expect trials, look forward to them, and flourish because of them! I promise that if you sow what you have into the lives of others, encouragement—you will see your own faith and also your blessings grow!!

Wat van jou? Hoe sal jy vaar gedurende ‘n krisis? Wees seker om elke dag, of ten minste een keer per week, al die getuienis van die HMI webwerf bymekaar te maak, maak dan seker dat hulle maklik gevind kan word en soekbaar. Wees ook seker om jou eie getuienisse te hê om te deel—begin om beproewings te verwag, kyk uit vir hulle, en floreer as gevolg van hulle! Ek belowe dat as jy wat jy het in die lewens van ander saai, aanmoediging—sal jy sien hoe jou eie geloof en seëninge groei!!

If the testimonies in this book have helped build your faith, then copy the parts you want to save. Consider having different sections, such as your personal or favorite financial testimonies to read yourself and share with others. Soon you’ll be submitting more praises of how the Lord has blessed you financially like He’s done for me. And whether you’re limited to a reduction or elimination, be sure you always are equally excited to boast about your weaknesses. Keep it real so others can relate.

As die getuiensse in die boek gehelp het om jou geloof te bou, kopieër dan dele wat jy wil hou. Oorweeg dit om verskillende seksies te hê, soos jou persoonlike of gunsteling getuienisse om self te lees en met ander te deel. Gou sal jy meer lofverslae indien van hoe die Here jou finansieël geseën het soos wat Hy vir my gedoen het. En of jy beperk is tot ‘n vermindering of eliminasie, wees seker dat jy altyd ewe opgewonde is om oor jou swakhede te roem. Hou dit eg sodat ander kan verband hou.

Lastly, be sure you do the same thing by posting your relationship testimonies, and maybe even another section with the testimonies for a physical healing! Together, as encouraging women, we will WOW the world with what God can do—the impossible!! And how having Him as a Husband means being carried over the threshold of difficulties!!!

Laastens, wees seker om dieselfde ding te doen deur jou verhouding getuienisse te plaas, en miskien selfs nog ‘n afdeling met die getuienisse vir fisiese genesing! Saam, as bemoedigende vrouens, sal ons die wêreld WOW met wat God kan doen—die onmoontlike!! En hoe om Hom as ‘n Man te hê beteken om oor die drumpel van moeilikhede gedra te word!!!