Martin Oosthuizen
We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.
- Winston Churchill -
This is a story with a South African heart and soul - waiting for you to unwrap the gift it holds.
Readers comments:
"This book gave me new hope in solving my current financial dilemma. It is inspiring to read how the author had to overcome similar problems I am currently faced with by trusting God completely and relying on God's mercy and love to make it all possible."
Claude McKirby
Sotheby's International Realty - Principal
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This short book is filled with the richness that honesty and courage bring to the truthful account of the journey of a family, from failure and ruin to triumph!
Dr M Kieser
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If one considers the magnificence of God's creation and believe God's word, that says that not even a hair will fall from our heads without Him knowing about it, we can not ignore the fact that God loves us, just like we are. This fact, being the central theme of "More than a million Canaries" is the greatest Miracle of all time.
Andre Wolhuter
Regional Director - Middle East - DBL Emirates
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Lise Lourens
Questions and Answers - about writing "More Than a Million Canaries"
1. What was my life right before the challenge or crisis hit? - I had a successful travel business and a property portfolio of 15 properties. The business was build up over 10 years. I lived in the wine-making Constantia valley just outside Cape Town, South Africa, with my wife and two children. I could afford to send my Children to a prestigious private school and was privileged to travel the world with my wife.
2. What was the crisis you faced? What happened and when it did, what did you feel and experience? - Disaster struck during the build-up to the Global Financial Crises. Property growth slow down, interest rates went up. One of our biggest customers, a German travel group, stopped selling South Africa tours, favouring new, fresh destination and my business went under.
Darkness descended and separated me from all hope and passion for life. Despair, anxiety and fear filled me as I changed from proud husband and father to a pathetic vessel, drifting somewhere in an endless, hopeless ocean of no hope.
3. What pulled you through this difficult, unjust or "impossible" time? What was the trigger or catalyst for change? - For the first time ever I had to test my faith in God to not only rescue me from this disaster but guide me through a humanly impossible situation. When all goes well in life - spirituality is easy and can be like a hobby, nobody and nothing to challenge whether it is real.
This was a war between life and death for me and I see myself privileged to have gone through this experience that enriched my life to such an extent that I have discovered my calling. I now want to share hope to those millions around the world currently in the same situation. I have seen the impossible made possible and supernatural intervention in disastrous financial situations.
I have discovered inner healing, healing with those around me in relationships and a passion for those in struggle.
4. Once you turned the corner mentally or emotionally, what did you do to turn your life around? - I have written a book to share with my friends and family what we went through. This helped with the process of healing and also became a book of inspiration:
www.More-Than-a-Million-Canaries.com - Triumph over financial ruin.
More Than a Million Canaries
Luke 12 verses 6 and 7: (The Message) What's the price of two or three pet canaries? Some loose change, right? But God never overlooks a single one. And he pays even greater attention to you, down to the last details - even numbering the hairs on your head! So don't be intimidated by all this bully talk. You're worth more than a million canaries.
Some of the Lessons I have learned:
Lesson 1. No matter how strong and clever you think you are, you're probably not. Your life can change in an instant. We all make mistakes and sooner or later we all face a challenge. Some challenges are bigger than others and some are even devastating.
All challenges can be overcome although some are more painful than others. You are created for a purpose and this might be your predestined time to open up your platform to bring hope to others in similar situations. Please do not quit - hang in there?
"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts." - Winston Churchill
Lesson 2. God knows every intimate detail of your life. He knows your pain and sorrow and promises that you will not be burdened beyond what you can bear. 1 Corinthians 10 verse 13: (The Message) says: No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed
past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it.
Lesson 3. Keep your head. Stay strong and be sensible. Do not quit. Use this time to restore broken relationships with those you have hurt, with God and those dear to you. Ask forgiveness were you have done wrong to others. Admit if you have made mistakes - do not live in denial. Learn to listen to the gentle voice inside. Ask for help and advice to work a way out. Be teachable.
Lesson 4. Take one day at a time and do not worry about tomorrow.
Lesson 5. Get out and do some exercise even if you do not feel like doing it.
Lesson 6. Hold on to your dreams do not loose faith.
"Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again more intelligently." - Henry Ford
Lesson 7. Go forth and share your light with the world. A lighthouse on a hill can not be hidden. Use the platform that God gave you to shine hope into lives of others. All of us have a unique colour and shape in the tapestry of His master plan for humanity. Yours can not be substituted by anyone else. That is the reason why you were born. Leave the positive fingerprints of your soul on the life's of those around you.
5. How is your life better today because you lived through this crisis? How have you transformed? How are you stronger emotionally, physically, spiritually? What gifts do you have to give because of this? - Today I know that the appreciation of life in its smallest details are like a palette of colourful paint you receive at birth - all sealed, ready to use on your canvas of life. When you break the seal and start to use them you will be amazed by your discovery. You will find that through mixing a few basic colours you can create dozens more. Your painting becomes bright, clear and exciting. However, sometimes you end up with the black brush in your hand. Those are the moments I remind myself that no painting has depth without shades.
I appreciate the peace and calm in my heart I never had before. My soul has found rest through the Father's love. I no longer restlessly run towards an unknown destination. I have seen darkness turned into light and the impossible made possible.
I have started the orphan-care-foundation.com to help with the pain of children without parents.
I want to spread the message of "More Than a Million Canaries" to those around the world going through challenging financial times right now.
God Bless You
Martin Oosthuizen
www.More-Than-a-Million-Canaries.com
Live a purpose-driven extraordinary life!
More than a Million canaries - Triumph over financial ruin - Martin Oosthuizen
Contact Me
P.O. Box 837
Constantia
7848
Cape Town - South Africa
"Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again more intelligently."
Henry Ford - 1863 - 1947
©2010 MartinOosthuizen.com - More Than A Million Canaries