Salig is die Sagmoediges “Ten Goede Verwerp”

Salig is die Sagmoediges
“Ten Goede Verwerp”

Buite in die Gang

Do you remember reading On the Rock, “Set Apart” when Erin’s desk was moved out into the hallway as punishment? Well, Erin spent a good portion of her school years—rejected. And even though no one wants to be rejected, God selected the rejected for good in order to build His ministries and missions.

Onthou jy dat jy Op die Rots, “Afgesonder” gelees het toe Erin se lessenaar in die gang geskuif was as straf? Wel, Erin het ‘n goeie deel van haar skooljare—verwerp spandeer. En alhoewel niemand verwerp wil wees nie, kies God die verwerptes om bedienings en sendings te bou. 

To bring about God’s plan, Erin needed to be rejected in order to be set apart from her classmates. For years her desk was either up behind the teacher’s desk so she was facing the corner, or her desk was outside in the hallway. The only time students were permitted to talk at her private school was outside during recess—never in the classroom or washroom or in the hallways. Yet for months at a time, Erin was denied recess.

Om God se plan teweeg te bring, moes Erin verwerp word sodat sy verwyder kon word van haar klasmaats. Vir jare was haar lessenaar eerder agter die onderwyser se tafel of sy het in die hoek vasgekyk, of haaar lessenaar was buite in die gang. Die enigste tyd wat student toegelaat was om met haar te praat by haar private skool was gedurende reses—nooit in die klaskamer of opwaskamer of in die gange nie. Tog vir maande op ‘n slag, was Erin nie reses toegelaat nie.

Remaining quiet all day was difficult for Erin because of her God-given passion for communicating. But like all God’s gifts, they’re reserved for His good use—not to feed our flesh and make us feel good. Feeding our flesh is human nature but it falls short of our spiritual nature designed for us as His prince.

Om die heeldag stil te bly was moeilik vir Erin, wie geseën was met ‘n God-gegewe passie vir kommunikasie. Maar soos al God se geskenke, word hulle voorbehou vir Sy goeie gebruik—nie om ons vlees te voed of om ons goed te maak voel nie. Om ons vlees te voed is menslik maar dit val kort van ons geestelike natuur wat vir ons as Sy prins ontwerp is.

Yet, facing the corner or in the hallway, Erin never felt she was alone. Remember how she’d learned that she was with her Prince of Peace who was closer than a Brother? Sadly, too many people in the world never realize that the Lord is right next to them—simply by inviting Him into their hearts—as I hope you read in My First Love "Closer than a Brother." If you don’t feel the Prince of Peace who promises to be closer than a Brother to you, then this is the appointed time. He’s been waiting for you.

Tog, om in die hoek vas te kyk of in die gang, het Erin nooit gevoel dat sy alleen was niel. Onthou hoe sy geleer het dat sy saam haar Vredevors was wie nader as ‘n Broer was? Hartseer, besef baie nie dat die Here reg langs ons is nie—deur Hom net in ons harte in te nooi—soos ek hoop jy in My Eerste Liefde “Nader as ‘n Broer” gelees het. As jy nie die Vredevors wat belowe om nader as ‘n Broer vir jou te wees aanvoel nie, dan is dit die aangestelde tyd. Hy wag vir jou.

Having the Prince of Peace who was closer than a Brother meant that Erin could talk all day long, in her heart, to her Prince of Peace who rescued her from ever feeling rejected. Have you discovered this too? If not, just ask Him and He will do the same for you.

Om die Vredevors te hê wat nader as ‘n Broer was het beteken dat Erin die heel dag, in haar hart, met haar Vredevors kon praat, wie haar gered het om ooit verwerp te voel. Het jy dit ook ontdek? Indien nie, vra Hom net Hy sal dieselfde vir jou doen.

SELF-Love??
SELF-Liefde??

Did you know that feeling alone is a clever scheme the enemy uses to make us believe the lie that our heart is heavy because we need to learn to love ourselves? But GOD that’s a lie because His Word says no one ever hated his own flesh, we cherish it. We are born SELFish. A baby is born demanding, crying for what he or she wants until he or she is old enough to be trained to not love only themselves. Notice the keyword SELF?

Het jy geweet om alleen te voel ‘n slim plan is wat die vyand gebruik om ons die leuen te laat glo dat ons hart swaar is omdat ons moet leer om vir onsself lief te wees. Maar GOD dit is ‘n leuen omdat Sy Woord sê niemand het ooit sy vlees gehaat nie, ons koester dit. Ons is SELFsugtig gebore ‘n baba word veeleisend gebore, huil vir wat hy of sy wil hê totdat hy of sy oud genoeg is om opgelei te word om nie net vir hulleself  lief te wees nie. Noteer die sleutelwoord SELF??

When God sent His Son to live on the earth, He came for many reasons. The first was to break the chains of death so we can live eternally, living with Him now and forever. Another reason God sent His Son to live on the earth was to leave us an example to show us how we are to live while here on earth. The Good Lord describes Himself saying, “I am gentle and humble in heart” so when we live like this, humbly, we are promised to find rest for our souls—no matter what is happening in our lives or what’s happening in the world. Our Lord also says that the only way we can live humbly is for us to be yoked or connected to Him and this will make our lives easy and light.

Toe God sy seun gestuur het om hier op die aarde te woon, het Hy vir baie redes gekom. Die eerste was om die kettings van die dood te breek sodat ons vir ewig kan lewe, vir ewig met Hom. Nog een was om ‘n voorbeeld te los van hoe ons moet lewe terwyl ons hier op die aarde is. Die Goeie Here beskryf Homself deur te sê, “Ek is sagmoedig en nederig van hart” en wanneer ons so leef, nederig, word ons belowe om rus vir ons siele te vind—maak nie saak wat in ons lewens gebeur of wat in die wêreld gebeur nie. Ons Here sê ook dat om nederig te lewe beteken ons is gejuk of aan Hom verbind en dit sal beide sag en lig wees. 

Think of yoked to the Lord of Hosts, tethered to the Lord as we leap out of a plane on a secret mission. Imagine yourself as you board an aircraft and soar to 13,000 feet or almost 4,000 meters (approximately 2 miles or over 3 kilograms high in the air)! When you and your Savior leave the plane, you will be falling at about 120 mph, 54 meters per second, reaching the ground in around 40 seconds! Who would YOU want to be yoked with?

Dink daaraan om aan die Here van die Leërskare gejuk te word, vasgemaak aan die Here soos wat ons uit ‘n vliegtuig uitspring op ‘n geheime onderneming. Stel jouself voor dat jy op ‘n vliegtuig klim en 13,000 voet of amper 4000 meter (min of meer 2 myl of meer as 3 kilometer hoog in die lug)! Wanneer jy en jou Redder die vliegtuig verlaat, jy sal omtrent 120 mpu, 54 meter per sekonde val, en die grond in omtrent 40 sekondes bereik! Aan wie wil JY gejuk word? 

Of course, the Lord of Hosts, our Prince of Peace, who exceeds all other armies, much like a Navy Seal who parachutes behind enemy lines to help guide more planes. But His planes are filled with His disciples who are ready and eager to save the lost. Erin’s nephew, James, did just that as a U.S. Navy Seal. Back when James was on active duty (which you can read about at the bottom of this Salvation Story), his mission was to fight an enemy he could see. Now James has a new mission—the same as yours—to save the lost and share God’s Word after He became a believer, God’s Mighty Warrior.

Natuurlik, die Here van die Leërskare, ons Vredevors wat alle ander leërs oorskry, baie soos ‘n Vloot soldaat wat agter die vyandelike linies valskerm om te help om meer vliegtuie te lei. Maar Sy vliegtuie is gevul met Sy dissipels wat gereed is om die verlorenes te red. Erin se broerskind, James, het net dit gedoen as ‘n V.S. Vloot soldaat. Terug toe James op aktiewe plig was (waarvan jy onderaan dit kan lees Redding Storie), sy onderneming was om ‘n vyand te veg wat hy kon sien. Nou het James ‘n nuwe onderneming—dieselfde as joune—om die verlorenes te red en God se Woord te deel nadat hy ‘n gelowige geword het, God se Magtige Krygsman.

The Good Shepherd, our Prince of Peace, lived on earth to save the lost. He didn’t come to judge the world, His Father is who does that. He lived His life in such a way that He never thought of HimSELF. He carried out the mission of His Father who sent Him. Laying down His life, He lived humbly so we could follow His example so we would think of others as more important than ourSELVES. As His Prince, as God’s Mighty Warrior, we never need to be concerned about ourSELVES because God promises to supply all our needs—far MORE than what anyone or anything on earth could give us!!

Die Goeie Herder, ons Vredevors, het op die aarde gewoon om die verlore te red. Hy het nie gekom om die wêreld te oordeel nie, Sy Vader is wie dit doen. Hy het sy lewe op so manier gelewe dat Hy nooit aan HomSELF gedink het nie. Hy het Sy onderneming van Sy Vader wat Hom gestuur het uitgevoer. Sy lewe neer gelê, Hy het nederig geleef sodat ons Sy voorbeeld kon volg en om aan ander te dink as meer belangrik as onsSelf. As Sy Prins, as God se Magtige Krygsman, hoef ons nooit bekommerd te wees oor onsSELF aangesien God belowe het om in al ons behoeftes te voorsien—ver MEER as wat enigiemand of enigiets op aarde ons kon gee!!

It works like this: As we pour our lives and love into others, He pours everything into us! It’s just like the Creator designed our hearts to work since we are fearfully and wonderfully made, made in His own image, in the image of God!! Picture this, God designed our hearts to pump and give oxygenated blood to every part of our body, then the blood returns back to the heart to receive more oxygen. Each beat pumps or gives more oxygenated blood to every part of our body so we can live! Imagine if our hearts didn’t give and thought only of itsSELF?! What if God didn’t give His only Son?

Dit werk so: Soos wat ons ons lewens en liefde in ander stort, Stort Hy alles in ons! Dis is net soos wat die Skepper ons harte ontwerp het om te werk aangesien ons op ‘n wonderbaarlike wyse geskep is, in Sy eie beeld, in die beeld van God!! God het die hart  ontwerp om te pomp en suurstofryke bloed na elke deel van ons liggaam te gee, dan keer die bloed terug na die hart toe om meer suurstof te ontvang. Elke klop pomp of gee meer suursofryke bloed na elke deel van die liggaam sodat ons kan lewe! Stel jouself voor as ons harte nie gegee het nie en net aan ditSELF gedink het?! Wat as God nie Sy enigste Seun gegee het nie?

SELF-Sufficient or Servant of All
SELF-Versorgend of Almal se Dienaar

Another lie is how we will be happier if we are independent and become SELFsufficient. Again, God’s Word says that’s a lie. God says we are His body, one body, and each part of our body is dependent on each part in order to function harmoniously—not INdependently from one another. Our dependence must be on Him alone—He is the vine and we are the branches. This means apart from Him, our heart, we can do nothing. Yet, as one body, He showed us by how He lived His life that we are happiest when we serve, not focusing on ourSELF and becoming SELFsufficient. No, for true happiness we need to be a servant of all.

Nog ‘n leuen is hoe ons gelukkiger sal wees as ons onafhanklik is en selfversorgend word. Weer, God se Woord sê dit is ‘n leuen. God sê at ons is Sy liggaam, een liggaam, en elke deel van ons liggaam is afhanklik op elke deel om harmonieus te funksioneer, nie ONafhanklik van mekaar nie. Ons  afhanklikheid moet op Hom alleen wees—Hy is die wingerdstok ons is die takke! Apart van Hom, ons hart, kan ons niks doen nie. Tog, as een liggaam, het Hy vir ons gewys deur hoe Hy sy lewe gelei het dat ons die gelukkigste is wanneer ons dien, nie fokus op onsSELF en SELFversorgend word . Nee, vir ware geluk om almal se dienaar te wees.

Is this really true?

Is dit regtig waar?

Well, do you know that most of the wealthiest people on earth soon realize that money doesn’t make them happy? With all the money they have and all the possessions they can buy, they discover their happiness is in giving to people in need. They become what the world calls a philanthropist, which simply means a person who gives money or gifts to charities, or helps needy people by the generous donations of their money to good causes; charitable acts, or other good works that help others.

Wel, weet jy dat die meeste van die rykste mense op aarde besef gou dat geld hulle nie gelukkig maak nie? Met al die geld wat hulle het en al die besittings wat hulle kan koop, ontdek hulle dat hulle geluk is om aan ander behoeftiges te gee. Hulle word wat die wêreld noem ‘n filantroop, wat eenvoudig beteken ‘n persoon wat geld of geskenke aan liefdadigheid gee, of help behoeftige mense deur die vrygewige donasies van hulle geld vir goeie doele; liefdadigheidsdade, of ander goeie werke wat ander help. 

Another interesting fact is that the more money a philanthropist gives away, the richer they become! That’s because God’s universe, the way He created everything, was set up with His laws of nature, the spiritual laws, which work even when you don’t know that law exists—like the law of gravity. Whether you understand this law doesn’t matter because if you jump off anything, gravity will force you to the ground. It’s only when you understand the law of gravity and use it to your advantage will you be able to fly.

Nog ‘n interessante feit is dat hoe meer geld ‘n filantroop weggee, hoe ryker word hulle! Dit is omdat God se heelal, die manier wat Hy dinge geskep het, was opgestel met sy wette van die natuur, die geestelike wette, wat werk selfs al weet jy nie die wet bestaan nie—soos die wet van swaartekrag. Of jy nou hierdie wet verstaan maak nie saak nie wat as jy van enigiets af spring, swaartekrag sal jou na die grond toe forseer. Dit is net as jy die wet van swaartekrag verstaan en dit tot jou voordeel gebruik sal jy in staat wees om te vlieg.

So as His Prince, how can you use these important spiritual laws, like being selfLESS and begin to give and to serve others? The best place to start is in your home with your family. Make it your mission, your charge to battle, to conquer your flesh and become the greatest among you, the servant of all.

So as Sy Prins, hoe kan jy hierdie belangrike geestelike wette, soos om onbaatsugtig te wees en begin om te gee en ander te dien? Die beste plek om te begin is in jou huis met jou familie. Maak dit jou onderneming, aanklag tot die stryd, om jou vlees te oorwin en die grootste onder julle, moet bereid wees om die ander te dien.   

• Give away your time and you’ll discover you have more time to do really fun things.
• Gee jou tyd weg en jy sal ontdek dat jy meer tyd het om regte pret dinge te doen.
• Give away your possessions and be ready for what He has stored up just waiting for you!
• Gee jou besittings weg en wees gereed vir wat Hy opgegaar het wat net vir jou wag!
• Give and it will be given to you so people will become amazed and baffled and what Who you have!
• Gee en dit sal vir jou gegee word sodat mense verstom en verbysterd sal word en wat Wie jy het!

Amazed and Baffled
Verstom en Verbysterd

Let me tell you a story. When Erin was just ten years old, her mother decided to plan a trip driving around the United States and then drive up north and drive west across Canada. This was the summer after her parents sold their family’s beach house and how they were going to spend the summer. The problem was, ever since Erin had started finding her way back home alone (as you read in My First Love "Closer than a Brother") she wanted to be at home where she felt safe and peaceful.

Laat ek jou ‘n storie vertel. Toe Erin tien jaar oud was, het haar moeder besluit om ‘n reis te beplan om deur die Verenigde State te ry en dan noord te ry en wes oor Kanada. Dit was die somer nadat haar ouers hulle familie strandhuis verkoop het en hoe hulle die somer sou spandeer. Die probleem was vandat Erin haar pad alleen huis to gevind het (soos wat jy in My Eerste Liefde “Nader as ‘n Broer” gelees het) wou sy by die huis gewees het waar sy veilig en vreedsaam gevoel het.

It was only when Erin was older that she realized this was her nature, the way God designed her to be so that later He could use this for GOOD. God formed and created Erin and created you by shaping and weaving all your traits together in a secret place, in the safety of each of our mothers’ wombs —perfectly, carefully, and skillfully each of us was made!

Dit was net toe Erin ouer was dat sy besef het dat dit haar natuur was, die manier hoe God haar ontwerp het om so te wees, sodat Hy dit later ten GOEDE kon gebruik. God het vir Erin en vir jou gevorm en geskep, en al jou eienskappe saam gevorm en geweef in ‘n geheime plek, in die veiligheid van ons moeder se baarmoeder, versigtig en vaardig was elkeen van ons geskape!

The skillful way God designs us and the difficult things He brings us through is so that He can reveal many amazing things others will witness and be baffled about. Those who knew Erin’s nature were the most baffled when God later called her to travel around the world many times and have no “home” to return to! God knows that when people are amazed and baffled they will begin to seek to know more and we can introduce them to their Savior, the Prince of Peace!

Die vaardige manier wat God ons ontwerp en die moeilike dinge waardeur hy ons bring is sodat Hy baie ongelooflike goed waarvan ander sal getuig en verbyster oor sal wees openbaar. Die wat Erin se geaardheid geken het was die mees verbysterd toe God haar geroep het om om baie keer om die wêreld te reis en eintlik geen “huis” gehad het om na terug te keer nie! God weet wanneer mense verstom en verbysterd is, sal hulle begin soek om meer te weet en ons hulle aan hulle Redder, die Vredevors kan voorstel!

Driving around America was challenging for Erin because for 3 long months she wasn’t able to see or talk to her father, her father who she adored, nor could she be at home where she felt safe. It was before cell phones, before video chatting. Nevertheless, she didn’t share her feelings with anyone. She only spoke to her Heavenly Father who she knew would be with her.

Om rondom Amerika te ry was uitdagend vir Erin omdat sy vir 3 maande  nie haar vader, wie sy adoreer het, nie gesien of met hom gepraat het nie, en sy kon nie by die huis wees waar sy veilig gevoel het nie. DIt was voor selfone, voor video geselsies. Nieteenstaande, sy het nie haar gevoelens met enigiemand gedeel nie. Sy het net met haar Hemelse Vader gepraat wie sy geweet het by haar sou wees.

The reason for this happened about halfway through their trip, after they’d traveled all the way from the West Coast of California to the East Coast to the tip of Florida. After they drove up the East Coast and moved into a house in the tiny seaside borough or town called Ocean Gate. The house was on a dead-end street next to the shore, a house that had been in their family for generations. It was there that Erin met her father’s brother, Uncle Sherman, and it was like she was spending time with her own father. But something else important happened while in Ocean Gate. Erin was called to that seaside town to rescue someone who would have died had Erin not saved them. No, not spiritually or emotionally rescuing and saving them as you read in On the Rock but physically rescuing a teenager—becoming his only lifeline!!

Die rede hiervoor het gebeur omtrent half pad deur die reis, nadat hulle al die pad van die Weskus van Kalifornie tot die Ooskus tot die punt van Florida gereis het. Nadat hulle by die Ooskus opgery het en in ‘n huis in die klein seekant stad of  dorpie van Ocean Gate ingetrek het. Die huis was in ‘n doodloop straat langs die strand, ‘n huis wat vir geslagte in hulle familie was. Dit was daar wat Erin haar vader se broer, oom Sherman ontmoet het, en dit was asof sy tyd met haar eie vader spandeer het. Maar iets anders belangrik het gebeur Erin was na daardie seekantse dorpie geroep om iemand te red wie sou gesterf het as sy hom nie gered het nie. Nee, nie geestelik of emosioneel nie om hulle te red soos wat jy in Op die Rots gelees het maar om fisies ‘n tiener seun te red—en sy enigste lewenslyn te word.  

Disobedience is Dangerous
Ongehoorsaamheid is Gevaarlik

All morning Erin had been out swimming, jumping off of a very long pier when she noticed a group of teenagers who were relentlessly teasing a boy. She couldn’t hear what they were saying to him, but the next thing she heard was a splash. The boy was on the bottom and wasn’t coming up!! Right away Erin could sense he couldn’t swim!! Surely someone would soon help him, but instead, Erin was shocked that the group of bullies was running away and the lifeguard was too far away to rescue him and hadn’t seemed to notice what had happened. That’s when Erin knew she was this boy’s only hope of being rescued or he’d drown.

Die hele oggend het Erin geswem, en by ‘n baie lang pier afgespring toe sy agter gekom het hoe ‘n groep tieners meedoënloos ‘n seun terg. Sy kon nie hoor wat hulle gesê het nie, maar die volgende ding wat sy gehoor het was ‘n geplas. Die seun was op die bodem en het nie opgekom nie! Onmiddellik het Erin aangevoel dat hy nie kon swem nie! Sekerlik sou iemand hom binnekort  help, maar eerder, was Erin geskok dat die klomp bullebakke weghardloop en die lewensredder was te ver weg om hom te red en het nie gelyk asof hy agter gekom wat gebeur het nie. Erin het geweet dat sy die seun se enigste hoop was om gered te word of hy sou verdrink.  

Erin was taught at a young age the real dangers of drowning because Erin’s mother, Grammy (who you read about in Macy's Barn Cat) told her children a very sad story many times. It was the story of how her mother and her mother’s younger brother, Richard, had disobeyed their parents by playing in a rowboat tied to a dock. When her mother, Grace, suddenly noticed the boat had started drifting far from shore. Grace told Richard not to worry because she could swim to shore to get help and to wait in the boat. Grace was a good swimmer but Richard was just learning to swim.

Erin was van ‘n baie jong ouerdom die regte gevare van verdrink geleer omdat Erin se moeder, Grammy (van wie jy in Macy se Skuur Kat gehoor het) vir haar kinders ‘n baie treurige storie baie keer vertel het. Dit was die storie van hoe haar moeder en haar moeder se jonger broer, Richard,  haar ouers ongehoorsaam het deur in ‘n roeiboot te speel wat aan die kaai vasgemaak was. Toe haar moeder, Grace, skielik agter gekom het dat die boot van die strand begin dryf het Grace het vir Richard gesê om nie bekommerd te wees nie omdat sy sal na die strand toe swem om hulp te kry en om in die boot te wag. Grace was ‘n goeie swemmer maar Richard het net begin om te leer swem.

Sadly, when Grace got help, 6-year-old Richard wasn’t in the boat. He had disobeyed not just his parents but also his older sister and didn’t wait for help. While trying to swim back to shore Richard had drowned. Disobedience is dangerous. This is what Erin taught her children each time she told the story of how her mother, Grammy, grew up as an only child, losing her only brother when he was just 7-years-old and what led to her parents divorcing. Grace and Richard were both taught by their Quaker aunts that children must obey their parents in the Lord, for this is right and so that they would live long on the earth because it’s not God who says “the good die young” but the world. 

Hartseer, toe die 7-jarige-ou Grace hulp gekry het was Richard nie in die boot nie. Hy het nie net sy ouers ongehoorsaam nie maar ook sy ouer suster en het nie vir hulp gewag nie. Terwyl hy probeer het om terug te swem na die strand toe het Richard verdrink. Ongehoorsaamheid is gevaarlik. Dit is wat Erin haar kinders elke keer geleer het wat sy die storie van hoe haar moeder, Grammy groot geword het as ‘n enigste kind, en haar enigste broer verloor het toe sy net 7-jaar-oud was en wat gelei het tot haar ouers se egskeiding. Grace en Richard het van hulle Quaker tannies gehoor dat kinders hulle ouers in die Here behoort te gehoorsaam, omdat dit reg is en sodat hulle ‘n lang lewe op die aarde kan leef. Omdat dit nie God is wat sê die “goeies gaan jonk dood” nie maar die wêreld.   

So when Erin saw this boy on the bottom of the very same bay where her uncle had died, she quickly swam down to the teenage boy. Erin grabbed hold of him while standing on the sandy bottom of the bay, and pushed the boy up to the surface to get air! Erin hadn’t learned any lifesaving skills but when she grew up and became a lifeguard. Knowing everyone needs to know how to rescue someone safely, Erin taught lifesaving skills to very young children—one was a little girl who saved her younger brother— a little boy who was younger than Richard. This little girl was awarded a medal for saving her little brother and Erin’s reward was seeing this little blonde-haired boy very much alive at his summer swimming lessons where she taught him how to swim. Now Erin teaches spiritual lifesaving skills to adults and very young children, like you, so you are confident in saving someone from death—giving them a new life!

So toe Erin hierdie seun op die bodem van dieselfde baai sien waar haar oom dood is, het sy gou af na die tiener seun toe geswem. Erin het hom gegeryp terwyl sy op die sanderige bodem van die baai gaan staan het, en die seun na die oppervlakte toe gestoot om lug te kry! Erin het nie lewensreddende vaardighede geleer nie maar toe sy groot word toe word sy  ‘n lewensredder. Wetend dat almal nodig het om te weet hoe om iemand veilig te red, het Erin hierdie vaardighede aan baie jong kinders geleer—een was ‘n klein dogtertjie wat haar jonger broer gered het—’n klein seuntjie  wat jonger was as Richard. Die klein dogtertjie was ‘n medalje toegeken omdat sy haar klein broertjie gered het en Erin se beloning was om hierdie klein blonde-haar seuntjie spring lewendig by sy somer swemlesse te sien waar sy swemlesse gegee het!!  Nou leer Erin geestelike lewensreddende vaardighede aan volwassenes en baie jong kinders, soos jy, sodat jy selfvertroue kan hê om iemand van die dood te red—en hulle ‘n nuwe lewe te gee!  

So since Erin had no life-saving skills, she simply trusted God to help her rescue the much larger teenage boy. Grabbing his legs, she’d shove the boy up to the surface where he could breathe as she walked along the bottom towards the ladder. When she couldn’t hold her breath any longer she’d let him go, quickly resurface for more air, and then dive back down again to lift the boy up to get more air while she continued walking towards the ladder.

So aangesien Erin geen lewensreddende vaardighede gehad het nie, het sy eenvoudig op God vertrou om haar te help om die baie groter tienerseun te red. Deur sy bene te gryp, het sy die seun op na die oppervlakte gestoot waar hy kon asem kry soos wat sy op die bodem geloop het in die rigting van die leer. Wanneer sy nie meer haar asem kon inhou nie het sy hom laat gaan, gou opgekom vir nog lug, en dan weer afgeduik om die seun op te lig om meer lug te kry terwyl sy voortgegaan het om na die leer toe te loop.

After repeating this several times, she finally was able to shove the teenager towards the ladder, and thankfully, the lifeguard was there to grab and pull the boy up out of the water as he coughed and cried. As Erin clung to the steps, coughing and spitting out all the water she also had swallowed, is when she noticed there was a large crowd watching her. Embarrassed, Erin hurried past assuring everyone that she was fine, and headed home where she felt safe. The last thing Erin wanted or needed was anybody’s attention or praise.

Nadat sy dit verskeie kere herhaal het, was sy uiteindelik in staat om die tiener na die leer toe te stoot, en dankbaar, was die lewensredder daar om die seun te gryp en en uit die water te lig soos wat hy gehoes en gehuil het. Soos wat Erin aan die trappe vasgeklou het, en gehoes het en al die water uitgspoeg het wat sy ook gesluk, is toe sy agter gekom dat daar ‘n groot skare was wat haar dophou. Skaam, het Erin vinnig verby almal gegaan terwyl sy hulle verseker het dat sy reg was, en huis toe gegaan waar sy veilig gevoel het. Die laaste ding wat Erin wou hê of nodig gehad het was enigiemand se aandag of die lof.

This is one of the many reasons God allows us to be treated unjustly and wrongly punished as you read about in On the Rock. God uses unfairness for GOOD so that we are trained to not be motivated by criticism or praise—because praise can easily make us proud. And though the world says being proud is a good thing, God says the opposite. God says having pride comes before destruction, and being arrogant before we fall.

Dit is een van die baie redes wat God toelaat dat ons onregverdig behandel word en verkeerdelik gestraf soos wat jy daarvan in Op die Rots gelees het. God gebruik onregverdigheid ten GOEDE sodat ons opgelei is om nie deur kritiek of lof gemotiveer te word nie—omdat lof ons maklik hoogmoedig kan maak. En alhoewel die wêreld sê dat om hoogmoedig te wees ‘n goeie ding is, sê God die teenoorgestelde. Hy sê op hoogmoed volg ondergang, op selfverheffing volg die val.

When Erin finally got back to the house, she never mentioned what had happened to her mother or aunt. Again Erin didn’t want or need anyone’s attention or praise. It was later in the day, that evening, that God orchestrated her reward. While sitting on their screened porch Erin’s aunt asked if the little girl everyone was talking about was her. Even though everyone in town was talking about the little girl who’d rescued the teenage boy from drowning, no one knew who the little girl was who saved him.

Toe Erin finaal terug gekom het by die huis, het sy nooit vir haar moeder of tannie genoem wat gebeur het nie. Weer het Erin nie enigiemand se aandag of lof nodig gehad nie. Dit was later in die dag, daardie aand, wat God haar beloning orkestreer het. Terwyl hulle op hulle afgeskermde stoep gesit het het Erin se tannie gevra het of die klein dogtertjie wat almal oor gepraat het sy was. Alhoewel almal in die dorp oor die klein dogtertjie gepraat het wat die tiener seun gered het van verdrinking, het niemand geweet wie die klein dogtertjie was wat hom gered het nie.

When her aunt asked if she was the little girl, Erin looked up and nodded yes. That’s when Erin was rewarded. With tears in her eyes Erin’s mother, Grace smiled and said, “Erin you did a good thing today” and she knew her mom was thinking of her own brother who had drowned because there was no one to save him.

Toe haar tannie haar vra of sy die klein dogtertjie was, het Erin opgekyk en ja  geknik. Dit is toe Erin beloon was. Met trane in haar oë het Erin se moeder, Grace geglimlag en gesê, “Erin jy het ‘n goeie ding vandag gedoen” en sy het geweet dat haar moeder aan haar eie broer gedink het wat verdrink het omdat daar niemand was om hom te red nie.

Sometimes we aren’t able to save our own family members, the people we love most in the world—but God chooses to send other believers to save them—while we rescue the family members of people we don’t know. That’s why we can never hesitate or believe the lie “we don’t have what it takes.” We are never too young or too weak because He makes us strong and will do it through us when we are weak. All we need to do is tell people our story, our testimony and this will lead to saving someone who is dying spiritually. We simply need to tell one person our story, our testimony of meeting our Prince of Peace.

Somtyds is ons nie in staat om ons eie familielede te red nie, die mense vir wie ons die meeste lief is in die wêreld—maar God kies om ander gelowiges te stuur om hulle te red—terwyl ons die familielede van mense wat ons nie ken nie red. Dit is waarom ons nooit kan twyfel of die leuen glo dat ons “nie het wat dit neem.” Ons is nooit te jonk of te swak nie omdat Hy ons sterk maak en dit deur ons sal doen wanneer ons swak is. Al wat ons moet doen is om mense ons storie te vertel, ons getuienis en dit sal lei om iemand te red wie geestelik besig is om dood te gaan. Ons moet eenvoudig vir een persoon ons storie vertel, ons getuienis van ons ontmoeting met ons Vredevors.

Tactical Mission
Taktiese Onderneming

Your “tactical mission” as God’s Son, God’s Mighty Warrior is to use the spiritual military tactics, His plan, so the emphasis, your focus is on the outcome of your mission, eternal life, rather than the specific means of achieving it and how you share your story. It’s also important that as Mighty Warriors we understand that our weaknesses and fears are what He planned to use for GOOD in order to destroy the enemy and rescue the lost.

Jou “taktiese onderneming” as God se seun, God se Magtige Krygsman is om geestelike militêre taktieke te gebruik, Sy plan, so die klem, jou fokus is op die uitkoms van jou onderneming, ewige lewe, eerder as die spesifieke middel om dit te bereik en hoe jy jou storie deel. Dit is ook belangrik dat as Kragtige Krygsmanne verstaan ons dat ons swakhede en vrese is wat Hy beplan het om ten GOEDE te gebruik om die vyand te vernietig en die verlores te red.    

Every training measure God uses is so we can gain our real strength, our spiritual strength to overcome the wicked one. Coupled with our trust in Him as our leader who leads us by His example and by being yoked to Him will mean we are no longer SELFconscious. When our focus turns toward the needs of others, the SELF in us will fade away. Rather than worrying about what others think of us, we valiantly follow His example and put others first.

Elke opleidingsmethode wat God gebruik is sodat ons ons ware krag kan win, ons geestelike krag om die bose een te oorkom. Saam met ons vertroue in Hom as ons leier wat ons deur Sy voorbeeld lei en deur aan Hom gejuk te wees sal beteken ons is nie meer selfbewus nie. Wanneer ons fokus na die behoeftes van ander draai, sal die self in ons verdof. Eerder as om bekommerd te wees wat ander van ons dink, volg ons dapper Sy voorbeeld en plaas ander eerste.

Being set apart means we are often put in uncomfortable situations so we gain a better, closer relationship with our Forever Best Friend and find the comforting protection of our Heavenly Father. Once Erin met her friend Liesel who you read about in On the Rock, the next year and the next and the next God made sure she went to a new school where she knew no one. At one new school, God turned the hearts of all her classmates so for six long weeks and she ate alone—giving her the determination to make friends so she could introduce anyone eating alone to a group of friends. That way no one had to face the rejection of eating alone!

Deur afgesonder te word beteken dat ons dikwels in ongemaklike posisies geplaas is sodat ons ‘n beter, nouer verhouding met ons Vir Ewig Beste Vriend kan win en die vertroostende beskerming van ons Hemelse Vader vind. Toe Erin haar vriendin Liesel ontmoet het van wie jy in Op die Rots geleer het, het sy die volgende jaar en die volgende jaar en die volgende het God seker gemaak dat sy na ‘n skool toe gegaan waar sy niemand geken het nie. By een nuwe skool, het God die harte van al haar klasmaats gedraai so vir ses lang weke en sy het alleen geeet —wat haar die vasberadenheid gegee het om vriende te maak sodat sy enigiemand wat alleen eet aan ‘n groep vriende kon voorstel. Op daardie manier hoef niemand die verwerping om alleen te eet in die gesig staar nie.

God’s mission led Erin to walk around the cafeteria and the courtyard at lunchtime looking for anyone who was eating alone. She’d simply walk over and say, “Hi, I’m Erin, would you mind if I eat with you?” and then ask to meet and have lunch the next day. The second day Erin would suggest eating and meeting some of her “friends” introducing them to a group of friends who were most like her new friend.

Erin se onderneming sou wees om om middagete om die kafeteria en binnehof te loop en vir enigiemand wat alleen eet te soek. Sy sou eenvoudig oorloop en sê, “Hi, ek is Erin, sal jy omgee as ek saam jou eet?” en dan vra om die volgende dag te ontmoet en middagete te eet. Die tweede dag sou Erin voorstel om saam haar “vriende” te eet en te ontmoet en hulle voorstel aan ‘n groep vriende wie ook al die meeste soos haar nuwe vriend was.

In each difficulty, in each challenge, and in each of our trials there is a hidden pearl—an opportunity God has given us. Once we believe in our hearts that God causes all things to work together for good and that God created each calamity for us to bless someone else—this becomes our mission, our calling that comes directly from the Father as we yoke and tether ourselves to Him—freefalling— that very soon will become exhilarating!

In elke moeilikheid, elke uitdaging en elkeen van ons beproewings is daar ‘n versteekte pêrel—’n geleentheid wat God ons gegee het. Sodra ons in ons harte glo dat God alles ten goede laat meewerk en dat God elke rampspoed geskep vir ons om iemand te seën—word dit ons onderneming, ons roeping wat direk van die Vader afkom soos wat ons onsself  juk en knoop aan Hom—vry val—dit sal baie gou opwindend word.

What’s funny is that most people believe that Erin is outgoing and brave, overflowing with a lot of SELF-confidence, but the truth is that is not her nature. The reason she looks out for others is that He looks out for her and her assurance is the best assurance anyone could have and everyone needs to have! The assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen because her hope and trust IS the Lord. What about you?

Wat snaaks is is dat meeste mense glo dat Erin spontaan is en braaf, oorvloei met baie SELFvertroue het, maar die waarheid is dat dit nie haar natuur is nie. Die rede wat sy op die uitkyk is vir ander, is dat Hy op die uitkyk is vir haar en haar versekerheid is die beste versekerheid wat enigiemand kan hê en almal nodig het om te hê!  Om seker te wees van die dinge wat ons hoop, om oortuig te wees van die dinge wat ons nie sien nie omdat haar hoop en vertroue IS die Here. Wat van jou?

If you’ve been rejected once or all your life, take heart—you’ve been rejected for good—and as you look to Him and trust Him I promise everything will turn out for good, for you and as you serve others! Begin today by sharing “Rejected for Good” and the other stories you’ve read.

As jy verwerp was een keer of jou hele lewe, hou moed— jy is ten goede verwerp—en soos wat jy na Hom kyk en op Hom vertrou belowe ek dit dit sal vir jou ten goede uitdraai, vir jou en soos wat jy ander dien! Begin vandag deur “Verwerp ten Goede” te deel en die ander stories wat jy gelees het.

• Share them with your classmates when they ask you why you are so kind.
• Deel hulle met jou klasmaats wanneer hulle vra waarom jy so vriendelik is.
• Share them with your parents when they ask you why you are so giving.
• Deel hulle met jou ouers wanneer hulle vra waarom jy so vrygewig is.
• Share them with anyone you meet when they ask you why you are so full of joy.
• Deel hulle met enigiemand wat jy ontmoet wanneer hulle vra waarom jy vol soveel vreugde is.