Life Interrupted

"Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
   but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails."  Proverbs 19:21

At my Tuesday morning Bible study, we just finished Priscilla Shirer's study "Jonah: Navigating a Life Interrupted."  Good ole Jonah!  He is so near and dear to my heart.  He is the character I most relate to in the Bible.  See, here I am in the belly of the whale...

And in good ole Jonah fashion, my life was interrupted today.  You see, I had my day all planned out.  My "To Do" list was written and waiting to be tackled.   I had a plan and was ready to get a lot accomplished today because the rest of my week is CRAZY busy!  I actually spent close to 30 minutes on Sunday night making my "To Do" list for the week so I wouldn't forget anything. 

But then real life happened!



I took my daughter to school and then went walking with my friend Cindy.  I came home and felt a strong nudge (from the Holy Spirit) to look at our bank account online.  When I pulled up our checking account I saw:  Available Balance:  $0.00!  I quickly looked at the specific debits on our account and saw some that were not made by us! 

I called my husband to double check and he confirmed my suspicions...someone had gained access to our account and depleted it!  And our overdraft protection had even kicked in for some of it!

I immediately went to the bank and filed a claim.  They were able to tell me that the person using our account was in the UK.  (I've always wanted to go to England!  Maybe this is my way of living vicariously through someone else while paying for their trip??!!!  LOL!) They have bought baby items and have paid for a hotel so far.  They originally tried to charge almost $900 at a hotel, but it was red flagged and then denied by the bank.   

The person has been using my husband's debit card number to make the charges.  This is interesting since my husband had the actual card in his possession, and he NEVER uses it!  EVER!  Even the lady at loss prevention asked me if I knew the last time my husband had used his card because she could not find it in her records.  He truly never uses it.  It makes you wonder then who could have actually gained access to his card number.  It definitely shrinks the suspect pool!

Anyway, the lady at the bank decided to cancel and reissue new debit cards to both of us.  Side note:  I wrote my last check on Saturday.  On Sunday when I went to get a new book of checks, I did not have any left!  I could not believe that I had let that happen without ordering more.  That is so not like me!  I rarely write checks anymore, but surely I would have reordered when I took the last book out of the box months ago, right??!!!  Apparently not!

I see this as being such a God thing because now that our account has been compromised, we have some decisions to make about that account!  And honestly, ordering new checks was the next thing on my "To Do" list before God nudged me to look at our bank account online!  ONLY GOD!  New checks are not cheap!

I must admit though, it is a little difficult not having the convenience of a debit card or a checkbook when you need to stop by the grocery store, get gas, or pay for something at the school.  We are so spoiled in this country!

Because it was my husband's card that was used, he had to be the one to fill out an affidavit for fraud.  After I told him what the bank said about everything, he destroyed his debit card immediately since it had been canceled.  However, I later discovered that he needed the card number for the affidavit!  

So, after work he had to go to one of the bank branches to get that info.  While he was there, he asked more questions about our situation.  In the process of helping him, the bank lady discovered that 2 (instead of just 1) new debit cards had accidentally been requested for me (by the lady who helped me at a different branch.)  As a result, the computer would have thrown out the entire request at the end of the day and never issued me a new card.  Instead, the lady helping my husband fixed the problem, and my card should be here soon.

If my husband hadn't needed to go to the bank to get his debit card number because he destroyed his card so quickly,  we never would have known there was a mistake with my new card.  ONLY GOD!!!  

God is just making sure that I do not forget what I learned in my Bible study on Jonah.....life's interruptions are actually divine interventions for believers!  According to Priscilla Shirer, "A life interrupted by a holy God is a privilege."  WOW!

And check out my Bible verse for today.... "When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other..."  Ecclesiastes 7:14

There is another familiar verse that comes to mind too...

"And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them." Romans 8:28 

So the next time you are interrupted, look for God in the midst of your situation.  And remember how privileged you are to be interrupted by our holy God!

*Also, please join me in praying for the person/people who have been stealing money from us.  It's really sad!  I'm asking God to use this situation to reach their hearts and give them an opportunity to hear the Gospel and learn about the hope of Jesus Christ. 

Loving HIM with all my heart,

Nancy